Prayer Gathering on Saturday

The Altar (taken this morning)

Yesterday's prayer gathering went off very well.  I set up the altar in the morning, cleaned the bathrooms, tidied the spare bedroom, put the table cloths on the tables, etc. and then, went to pick up friend R.

On the way home, we stopped at a nearby grocery store to pick up some flowers for the altar and a flan for dessert (R's contributions) and some last bits of groceries I wanted (bananas, a small container of milk, and a bottle of ginger ale soda).  R also bought some bread rolls from the bakery section for us for a late lunch.  My share of the groceries came to $4 and some cents. 

Then, we came out of the grocery store and I had moment of panic because I thought my car had been towed!  This is not a grocery store I go to on a regular basis, so, I was unfamiliar with the layout.  There had been a parking spot right in the front, near the entrance, and while, usually, these spots are for handicapped parking, neither R nor I could see any signs saying it was handicapped parking, only.  Usually, handicapped parking is indicated by blue signs, blue striping, etc.  Well, there wasn't anything to be seen, so, I parked there, feeling very happy that I was able to get parking so close to the entrance.

When we came out with our groceries, I went to the spot where I thought I had parked my car and my car wasn't there!  What's more, there were handicapped parking signs posted and written in big blue letters on the wall!  Well, I thought I had parked in a handicapped spot, without noticing the signs, and they had towed my car!  $250 fine for parking in a handicapped spot, illegally.  More than the fine, the inconvenience of having to go to the impound yard to get the car back, when there was a prayer gathering to be held in a few hours!

I thought, oh, my goodness, now what do I do?!  I ran into the store and spoke to a manager, saying I guess I parked in a handicapped parking spot, without realizing it, and now my car has been towed!  She said they rarely, if ever, tow the cars and came out with me to see what had happened.  She asked what kind of car and I said, a white Toyota Camry.  She looked around and pointed in the other direction  and said, "Ma'am, your car is on that side, near the other entranace!"  Oh, my!  I had gone in from one entrance and come out from another entrance and not realized it!  I hadn't parked in a handicapped spot and my car hadn't been towed!  Whew!  I was so happy, I gave the manager a hug and thanked her!  In the meantime, friend R, who had stayed outside with the cart of groceries, had realized that we had parked by the other entrance and had gone inside the store to look for me!  But, I had already come out and was looking for her!  LOL!  Eventually, she spotted me and called out to me!  My goodness!  That was a bit of excitement we could have done without, but, we laughed and said my mother must have played a practical joke on us. 

After we came home, we ate two of the rolls R had bought with the sauteed chicken I had cooked, earlier.   My neighbor T had left a message on my answering machine and I called her back and she asked me if I could come over to help her with something, so I went over and checked on her. 

Afterwards, friend R and I started on the prayer gathering preparations.  R arranged the flowers in vases and washed the grapes while I mopped the bathroom; she removed the dust sheets from the sofas while I cooked the sausages, and fried the pappadum.  The she helped me take out the serving dishes and the glass plates from the china cabinet and take down the drinks from the kitchen cabinet where I store them.  Then, we had a cup of tea and I took a shower and got dressed.  I put the rice to boil while she got dressed.  Then, I warmed up all the curries (although they had to be warmed up again, before dinner was served).  The only thing I didn't get around to doing from my To Do list was mopping the kitchen floor.  I was tired by that time and didn't want to push myself.  But, everything else was done by 6:30 p.m., as planned.

The first guests arrived at 7:00 p.m. and the others were all here shortly after that.  I was happy that my relatives from my mother's side of the family were all able to attend the prayer gathering: Aunt T (my mother's sister-in-law), her two daughters, my cousins V and R, and my other cousin P.  Cousin P had called me earlier in the evening saying she didn't think she'll be able to come, but, she managed to make it, after all.  I don't say any of the rosary prayers, myself, but, my three cousins and friends R and F, each said a decade of the rosary and we offered special prayers of good health to a little girl named Violet and two sisters named Whitney and Paige, the granddaughter and daughters of two of my blog friends. 

Afterwards, we served dinner:

Dinner: Rice, cashew churry, dhal, sausages, coconut sambol, salad, green beans,  chicken curry, beef curry, and pappadum

For dessert, I had flan, yogurt and treacle, and fresh grapes (2 kinds: green and black).

There were 12 of us at the gathering and the conversation flowed.  It was past 11:00 p.m. when people started to leave and I encouraged people to take food home with them.  Several people took me up on the offer and I was ready with the containers and paper plates, etc. 

Friend R stayed the night and helped me to put away the food and to wash up the dishes, etc.  Then, I video chatted with my daughter. 

I was too tired by then to do a blog post.  As I told one of my friends, my legs felt like they were going to fall off!  LOL.  I said my regular nightly devotions and went to bed by 1:30 a.m., which is early for me! 

I slept till 9:00 a.m. this morning.  Then, I put away most of the washed dishes and pots and pans while I waited for my tea to brew.  The pharmacy had texted saying my inhaler was ready for pick up, so, I called in at the pharmacy to pick it up, this morning, while friend R did a little shopping of her own at the same pharmacy.  Then, I dropped her off at her apartment and came home.  It has been a cloudy, overcast day, and we had a little bit of a drizzle, too.  I'm glad for the moisture because the garden needs it.

I've put away the serving dishes back in the china cabinet and started on the laundry.  I'm on my third load, now, and there is one more load to go.  I will mop the kitchen floor, a little later, tonight, or, maybe, even, tomorrow.  Today, I scrubbed the other half of the kitchen sink.  The living room, dining area, family room, kitchen, and bathrooms are looking how I like them to look - clean and tidy.  The bedrooms are another story!  LOL.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:
- My car was not towed, after all!
- Friend R's help with everything
- Family and friends all participating in the prayer gathering and bringing dishes and drinks to contribute
- Being able to send food home with them
- A clean house!

Plans for today:
- Go to the pharmacy to pick up my refill - DONE
- Drop R off at her apartment - DONE
- Put away the last of the dishes - DONE
- Laundry - In progress
- Mop kitchen floor
- Practice the piano

How was your Saturday?  Have you ever forgotten where you parked and panicked?  How is your Sunday coming along?