mass en masse

2009-04-13 3:01 p.m.

With each passing day of the WorldMUN conference I grew steadily more enamored with Fake Dev Patel. He didn't have slim-cut suits and a face like an Easter Island statue, but still, enough of a resemblence. As countries we were only vaguely joined by european kinship, but I spent as much time as possible with him. One day when he grabbed my waist, I didn't feel harassed but rather giddy. Last night for him/yesterday morning for me we spent a glorious hour and a half bantering over skype, and I came to the realization that love is simply nowhere to be found in the States. I have to go to Europe or Dubai.

Dubai with a "D" as in "dog", not "Mumbai" as in "mom", for the record. I suggested that we visit someday and my mom said absolutely not, "They're indian and they were just bombed a few months ago."

She also asked me: "You're studying psycho, why does your dad hang out with such losers?"

"I'm majoring in International Studies and Political Science, and I don't know why he hangs out with deadbeats."

She had called to say that my dad was mad at me for never picking up the phone.

"I told him that you always leave it somewhere on vibrate, but he didn't believe me. Even so, you need to call home sometimes because we miss you and want to know if you're alive or dead."

I checked my missed calls, and sure enough there were a few from my dad. He left me a voicemail reminding me that Easter was the next day and that Donny and I had better go to mass. I didn't really need reminding, anyways. I have been counting down the day for forty days now, though admittedly less for salvation's sake and more for ohnotheydidnt. Sunday morning I dutifully got up and dressed in my Sunday best - which is to anyone else, Sunday worst. I wore a ribbed tank top, neon green cardigan and those giraffe print shoes that have gaping holes but I refuse to throw away. Keeping it classy for my lord.

Donny refused to go. "Do you really believe some guy died and then lived again after three days?" I didn't have time to argue with him, because it turned out that the church/mass I had planned on going to at noon was korean, so I had to quickly find an alternative. I found one five minutes away, but still ended up ten minutes late and out of a seat. It wasn't as crowded as I've seen Easter masses in previous years. Just goes to show the diminishing faith in the world. Mass was quick, which I was grateful for since I had to kneel on the ground padding... in a skirt. My knees were all banged up, but again, taking one for the holy team.

I joke about it, but I realized yesterday that I'm actually very traditional and modest by the standards of what I saw. My dad did a pretty good job of instilling habit in me, and yelled at us whenever we wore sleeveless tops, open-toe shoes or shorts. Parents aren't doing a good enough job of teaching kids respect for church. Tattered jeans galore, gross amounts of cleavage and a lot of texting/twittering all around me. It made me angry, but hey, I guess the catholic church is so badly waning that they'll take whatever congregation they can get.

I'll admit, I go to church out of obligation first and foremost, but there's a hint of faith in me. Whenever people, i.e. Fake Dev Patel, ask me what I am, I tell them I'm a part-time catholic. I'm catholic when I need to assert my superiority over protestants. I'm catholic when I need to give a faith on a form. But I'm also catholic for substantive things, i.e. when our luck is down (fingers crossed that interferon works) or when life is good.

For the first few months of this year, there were some crazy troughs in my moods and life. It is partially because of those darker times that this past week has looked so great, but also simply because this week has genuinely been so great.

Leonard Cohen.

Best times with best friends.

What looks like more good times to come.

The sleepover Friday night/morning was great, but Christina and I had our milder version last night. I came over bearing the gifts of Burger King, peanut M&Ms and Ryan's "Lords of Dogtown" dvd. Junk food and Emile Hirsch may seem like the simple things in life, but oh what wonders they can work on the spirit. Also, a mere twenty hours absence of Christina from my life makes my heart grow fonder.

This morning I called her frantically, actually muttering over and over again, "Please pick up, please pick up!" I had just found out that not only are the Morning Benders playing Outsidelands (with the Dodos, my other favorite band at the moment), but also with the Walkmen at the El Rey in Los Angeles. Christina had been talking about this show for a month and a half, trying to convince Ryan and I to go. Well, damn. Done deal now!

Cap it all, PHOENIX and THE ZOMBIES are touring this summer. Their California dates are the two days before my birthday, so for once, I just might have a good birthday!

Again, so happy lately! It's a little sickening, I'm sure.

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