My First Confession

priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner.

He was delayed, however, and the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited. "I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place.

"The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and when questioned by the police, he was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs, and gave VD to his sister. I was appalled.

"But as the days went on I learned that my people were not all like that, and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish - full of good and loving people."

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation. "I'll never forget the first day our Parish Priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession."

Author Unknown   

{this memory} 24

It's 1987. And it's Halloween. Twenty-four years ago. What a difference a quarter-century can make! In this Moment, we find my wife and my two daughters getting ready for Trick-or-Treat.

The younger daughter is costumed as a Disney mouse - not sure which one. She always loved Mickey, and it was a sad day in Charlottesville when she lost her Mickey t-shirt. It was a favorite she had purchased at Disney World a few years earlier. She slept in that oversized Mickey shirt so many nights it was getting threadbare. We were in C'ville in 1997 when my older daughter was visiting the campus as she college shopped, but when we left the hotel, the younger daughter left the shirt hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Tragic.

The older daughter is costumed as She-Ra, Princess of Power - another childhood favorite. It appears she is pouting, but no one can remember why. She did decide to go to the University of Virginia. Not tragic. She loved it.

I am a fortunate man. I can look back on countless happy memories.

TGB