“Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” You know how you get a song stuck in your head… it keeps playing, and playing, and playing

Dailey Sun~Chronicles (Day 5 of ‘self-quaranteen’ ‘social isolation’ social distancing . . . ) Counties of San Mateo and Santa Clara – It was really special to text message my former fiancée this motning…

it is about all this man has left is some beautiful memories. I and KP were going to get married and I would have a son (I only fathered on daughter that I know of) and I was already planning on paying his way through Pharmacy School at The University of the Pacific [Stockton] or UCSF [San Francisco].

Perhaps some of the 8, 9, or ten happiest days of my life. One day, we went into a Palo Alto jewelry store. KP decided when to stop sizing engagement rings. By Day #10, were were no longer “an item.”

What a storybook scene: Romantic meeting inside, or was it outside in line, at the local East Palo Alto midnight shelter. I say “midnight shelter” because We HOPE would not allow any drunks in after 12:00.

KP and I were gonna’ have it all, together, and a son working at Walgreen’s dispensing class-two narcotics to manage our chronic pain issues. See KP and I had a lot in common and dreams of a better future (this was the Summer of 2013).

By the Fall of 2013, I was urged by Father Johnny to join the priesthood. In fact, during two separate years – 2013 and 2015 – I attended, or attempted to get in, St. Patrick Seminary School. Each time I was told by a cool seminarian that there was no room for me there.

In those days, I looked over 50 years-old. It was easy to see their point. The Archdiocese of San Francisco ‘Discernment Weekend’ was for 20-something unmarried Catholics. Me with Roman Catholic credentials dating back to 1953 had no place better to go that Friday afternoon(s).

Father Johnny was right to go express my intentions, desire, hopes, and dreams up to St. Patrick – our patron saint of Fighting Irish fans.

Had I been admitted then, I would be a practicing priest right NOW.

At this time, we need more religious leaders. That is not me.

pictured below is EPA’s Project We HOPE: