Ash Wednesday

We helped distribute ashes at our church and the pastor provided us with a small “cheat sheet.” The rosary was Clare’s paternal grandmother’s, I believe, complete with a broken bead lower right (#8 of the 2nd decade as I go ’round).

[cohare]

Beautiful photo and rosary. I have my grandfather's and had it blessed by the last pope when I was studying in Rome. It is very special to me.

[Thom Mitchell]

@cohare Thank you, Christine! Clare & I love having such “family things”!

How long were you in Rome? We were in Tuscany three years ago as a side trip from visiting our daughter in Paris and we loved it there! (Well, both places!)

[cohare]

I loved/studied architecture there for 6 months. I was able to travel all around Europe while there as well. I actually got my first SLR as a gift from my parents while living there. I had no idea how to use it...but I have a couple nice pictures from that time period. Wish I could go back some day now that I know how to use my camera a little better! Maybe some day when my kids are grown!

[Thom Mitchell]

@cohare This is really quite simple, Christine: Rory does a study abroad in Italy, Audrey does hers in France and Tommy does his in Austria or Switzerland or Spain. Then you have (a) an excuse to go, (b) someone on the ground who has scoped out the vicinity and (c) someone who can help with the local language! ;)

BTW, it was something that happened in Firenza that made me want to begin the switch from film to digital…

[Grace Mitchell]

@rhoing what was it??

[Thom Mitchell]

@gmitche47 It was Sunday and we were going to go to Mass at the Duomo, but go back to the hotel after Mass. Since we were going to go back to the hotel after Mass, I just took my point-and-shoot and 1 or 2 extra rolls of film. I would get Grandpa's Nikon and more film when we went back to the hotel. Except we didn't. So I had to make that one roll or two rolls of film I took to Mass last the rest of the day. In Florence, Italy. I mean, come on! Lunch in the piazza near city hall? Ponte Vecchio? Our trek toward the west end of town? Even if it was 2 rolls of 36, we're talking Florence, people! With digital, an extra battery pack and an extra memory card go in my pocket: sigh. (Grandma got that great shot of you on Ponte Veccio, remember?) Significant advantages of digital became painfully-apparent that day!