Wednesday September 22, 2004

 I never thought I would get rid of my collection considering it was one of the best. Over the years it was featured in many books and magazines devoted to the Civil War. I never thought I would get rid of it.

At some point I was able to realize that my attraction to Emmitsburg and the sequence of events that led up to it was stronger than the lifetime of greed and lust that enabled me to build the collection. I was no longer able to view my collection as something I was proud of but as something that separated me from God. I am glad it is gone and we are here.

I took today off because we are financing the remaining cost of the house and the closing was scheduled at 10 am in Gettysburg. S.C.C. and I attended morning mass at St. Mary’s and then rode home. Later we left to go sign the papers for the loan and just as we pulled out of the driveway the feeling of peace hit me. I looked down and the time on the dash was 9:33. We arrived and signed the necessary papers and when we finished and pulled out the car in front of us had the license plate of 13.

We drove home and S.C.C. left to do volunteer work with the Mission of Mercy. I drove down the street to sit with a neighbor who is dying of cancer. Members of the Thursday Night Prayer Group take turns sitting with him so his wife can work to pay bills. When I was relived I drove home and pulled in my driveway and the time was 1:13.

I took a nap on the couch in the living room and when I woke up I had the desire to go to St. Joseph’s and pray the rosary. I never looked at my watch until I arrived at St. Joseph’s and the time was 3:13:59. I sat in the car and prayed the rosary because the church is still closed due to renovations. When I finished the rosary I looked at my watch and the time was 3:33.

I then drove home and later just felt like riding out to the Grotto of Lourdes to pray the rosary. I stopped at St. Joseph’s on the way and just as I arrived I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:33:59. I said a short prayer and as I was leaving I then noticed that when I arrived the odometer was also 1.3.

While driving to the Grotto I saw Jim O’Brien walking home from work and I asked him if he would like to go with me. Jim got in the car and we drove to the Grotto. I wanted to pray the rosary but I did not because Jim and I just walked around and talked. When we left the Grotto I started the car and the time on the dash was 6:33.

I drove Jim home and dropped him off. I then rode back to St. Joseph’s to pray the rosary and when I arrived the odometer was 33. I sat in the car and prayed the rosary and then drove home. I pulled in my driveway and the time on the dash was 7:13. Later I sat down and wrote today’s entry in my daily notes/journal and at the very instant I finished writing I looked at my watch and the time was 8:33:13.

R_____ C___

Oct. 1, 2004

3:33 Pm