We Have Finished Moving to the Emmitsburg Area

July 2004

We have finally completed our move from "hometown" to Fairfield which is just a few minutes from St. Joseph’s in Emmitsburg. Our move went smoothly despite obstacles that just seemed to appear out of nowhere, such as S.C.C. breaking her foot. David G was a big help and so was C.R.C..

I could sit down and write individual papers describing our move but I have decided not to for several reasons. First, it would be to many papers because there were so many trips back and forth and all of them would describe our arrivals and departures in perfect synchronization with 13 or 33 minutes after the hour.

Secondly, it would be impossible to describe them with 100% accuracy because although I kept my journal notes I did not do the best job with them because I was so busy. Several days would pass before I would write my notes and after I wrote them I remembered things I left out or wrote down on the wrong day. If I can’t write these papers with 100% accuracy I will not write them at all.

With this said I will summarize our move to the Emmitsburg area by saying that every step of the way was filled with peace and each arrival was either 13 or 33 minutes after the hour or some other unexpected form of the numbers presenting themselves such as the odometer and always at St. Joseph’s in Emmitsburg or our new house in Fairfield and often both.

I remember the very first paper I ever wrote describing how the numbers 13, 33 and 333 present themselves which was February 13, 2002 in it I said:

“After accepting this explanation the frequency that this would happen increased and to this day happens anywhere between 10 and 25 times a day, sometimes less sometimes more but always by surprise and always in perfect sync with another event such as a thought about Jesus or Mary or arrival at St. Joseph’s in Emmitsburg or arrival home in "hometown" after returning from Emmitsburg. It would happen every time I took the Eucharist to Clarence Settle and happens every time I do the same for Bob G. It would be impossible to document each time this happens because if I did I would never finish writing.”

It is beginning to look like I never will finish writing and despite the amount I have already written I could have written 10 times more. I have decided to take this opportunity to go back to the very early days of my trips to Emmitsburg on Thursday nights and describe one particular evening that is a perfect example of how the 13’s and 33’s present themselves accompanied with peace and with split second timing. This event took place before I was writing anything down but my memory of this night is so vivid I do not need notes.

The only thing about this night that I can’t remember is the date. It was on a Thursday driving home from Emmitsburg after attending the weekly public apparition of Our Lady of Emmitsburg to Gianna at St. Joseph’s.

I had recently purchased a 1986 Chevy Astro Van from my aunt Elaine who lives in Richmond. It had low mileage and seemed to be in good condition so I started driving it to Emmitsburg on Thursdays. I picked up Ted at his house in Leesburg and we went to St. Joseph’s for the weekly prayer service, apparition and mass. Nothing special sticks out in my mind about what time we arrived that day, it was coming home that I will never forget.

We attended the Thursday Night Prayer Group at St. Joseph’s, when it was over Ted and I got in my van to start the trip home. About half way back to Leesburg my headlights started to go a little dim. After a few miles the red alternator light came on. The van seemed to be running okay but the lights were gradually getting dimmer. We arrived back at Ted’s house and he tried to talk me into staying the night just in case the van broke down. I told Ted that I thought I would be able to make it home and started driving.

I was about half way between Leesburg and "hometown" when the lights started to get even dimmer and I was starting to think that I might not make it home. I continued to drive and by the time I reached "hometown" the lights were not much more than a dull glow. The closer I got to my house the happier and more relived I became.

I arrived home and pulled in my driveway and the van died. It did not even make it to the end of the driveway. The van finished breaking down half way up my driveway. I was filled with peace and relief. When the van shutdown on its own in my driveway the time on the dash was 12:13 and the odometer was 13.

This is an example from the early days before I was writing things down that make it impossible for me to ever doubt the authenticity of Our Lady of Emmitsburg. I could go on but I will stop here.

R_____ C___

August 8, 2004

1:13 Pm