Top O' the Morning

July 3rd - I think an old friend of mine, Larry Santo, was born today. He's gone now a year or two, but I woke up thinking of him so it might be today's his day. He was a character. I first met him at St. Patrick's Parish in Northside. He actually was the first person there to speak to me and he was a gentle soul. The church florist, sacristan, eucharistic minister, and server par ex-cell-ance. He loved to say he taught me all I know about serving and floral arranging, and that could be true. Along with my keen eye for observation and artistic temperment, of course.

Shortly after my arrival at St. Pat's I observed that Larry always wore a shade of green when he was on the altar. Later, at St. B's, he always wore the appropriate color tie to correspond with the vestments of the day. I think of him as the Irish/Northside version of Mr. Beachy. May he be teaching the angels a thing or two today!