A Priest, Some Rabbits and a Tornado

My ‘Perfect Day’

It was late in the afternoon when the tornado sirens went off. So I turned on the radio to find out what was happening. It is the only time I ever turn on the radio.

The weather woman said that we were under the highest tornado alert. A tornado touched ground just seven miles west of town and was headed due east straight at our town. Possible golf ball-sized hail was expected as well.

The woman continued, “Do NOT go outside to look at the storm. Seek shelter immediately! This is a quick moving storm. Seek shelter immediately! Now!”

So what did I do? I went outside to look at the storm. My building doesn’t have a tornado shelter anyway. The best I can do is get in the bath tub with a mattress over me.

Most of the western sky was black. I could not see the tornado but the weather cell was big. It was rather breezy out. But my psychic radar was not picking anything up. I could feel no imminent danger at all.

So I went back inside and turned off my laptop (just to be safe). The radio was still on and the newest update was that somewhere over the course of those seven miles between us and the tornado it decided to take an abrupt forty-five degree left turn and headed north. While the weather woman urged everyone to stay in their shelters for now, I looked out my westward-facing window and I could see the storm moving rapidly north. The town was completely spared. We did not even get a single drop of rain.

This all happened last week. This week it has been steadily raining all day and all night for days. There is flooding going on. Like my mother used to say, “If it’s not one thing it’s another.”

The good news is that this afternoon we got a tiny forty minute break in the weather. It stopped raining, the clouds started breaking up and the sun actually poked out briefly here and there. I took the opportunity to go walking as well as to get a couple chores done.

I like to walk down alleyways. It can be more peaceful than walking along a busy street. I was walking down an alleyway headed downtown when up ahead of me I saw a rabbit. It was very slowly hopping across the alleyway. I kept walking toward it. This town is inundated with rabbits. They are everywhere. It is rare for me to go a day without seeing one.

Once the bunny made it across the alleyway another rabbit hopped out onto the alleyway following the first one. I slowed down my walking so as not to spook them — also to watch them. They are so darn cute!

When the second rabbit reached the other side of the alleyway yet another rabbit hopped out into the alleyway following the second one. I came to a stop. I watched a fourth and a fifth rabbit cross the alleyway. It was like a little bunny parade.

Five rabbits crossing your path from left to right; what could that mean? Surely it must be a lucky omen, right? I mean we are talking about twenty lucky rabbit’s feet.

What ever the event might have meant the important thing to me is that I was gifted. I was gifted with the opportunity to witness the sacred cuteness of one of God’s most darling mammals. I was filled with gratitude. Those bunnies put a smile on my face.

While walking downtown I ran into someone I have not seen in about three months. I am talking about Father Gary (not his real name). He is the head honcho priest at the local Catholic church and school. I have known him for around five years, mostly because he was a client where I used to work but also because I keep running into him every freaking where I go. Seriously, he is like around every corner.

But, like I said, it had been around three months since I have run into him. The most defining characteristic of Father Gary is that he is ALWAYS smiling. I do not recall ever seeing him when he was not smiling. He is to smiling like Amma (the Indian hugging saint) is to hugging. It is like his face is hopelessly stuck in a smile.

I cannot help but wonder if he is smiling as he says mass. That might undermine the seriousness of Catholic ritual. Because of a promise I made to “God” I might not ever know.

Over the five years that I have known Father Gary we have spent a good amount of time talking. The one thing we never, ever, ever, ever talk about is religion. He knows that I am not a card-carrying member of his organization and I know that he does not want to hear about any woo-woo. So we have talked about anything and everything except any spiritual matters.

He is a really fun and interesting dude, by the way. If he was not always wearing that darn black shirt and white collar thingie we would just be two adult male humans who enjoy talking with one another.

So we stopped on the sidewalk and greeted each other. After initial pleasantries, Father Gary asked, “So have you found a new job yet?”

“Nope. I decided to retire instead.”

Suddenly a transformation came over Father Gary. His eyes bugged out, his jaw dropped and his mouth opened without being able to say anything. Any trace of a smile left his face. I think it was the very first time I have ever seen him when he was not smiling.

Eventually, he spoke, “Seriously? You’re old enough to retire?”

I laughed. Father Gary is a sincere and honest guy. I took what he said as a supreme compliment. It was suddenly like the smile that was always attached to his face left his face and attached itself to my face. I was definitely smiling.

And I’ve been smiling ever since. Despite the weather, I am smiling. First, five bunny rabbits put a smile on my face then a Catholic priest made me smile. Am I blessed, or what? And the day is not even over yet! I still get to cook dinner and wash dishes!

Just another ‘perfect day’ in paradise.

Copyright by White Feather. All Rights Reserved. Stories by White Feather

Speaking of foul weather…