Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought Of The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 14.06.2007 (Article Archived on 28.06.2007)

This weekend, there have been several events that have brought the past to our attention.

This weekend, there have been several events that have brought the past to our attention.  The first was the RAF Summer Ball, in which the theme was the ‘70s.  Many of the attendees were dressed in the outfits of the era, either the gaudy post-hippie style, or in the darker, more severe punk rocker persona.  It was all delightfully funny and amusing.  Memorabilia from the decade decorated the mess, bringing back memories of the movies, television shows, games, sports figures and events that defined the 70s.

As someone who lived through this decade, it was especially poignant as well.  The 70s were an important decade for me; graduation from high school, university and specialty training, getting married, starting a family, building a house.  It was such a busy ten years, I think I’m lucky to even remember them!  It was also a decade in which so many of the important parts of my life took root.  So to be reminded of it was special, and made me reflect on how I got to where I am now in my life.  Although I have to admit, I think we all had to ask that simple question as we looked at the outfits:  “Whatever were we thinking??!!”

The second, more somber event occurred this past Sunday with the church service at St. Mary’s in commemoration of the liberation of the Falkland Islands.  Twenty-five years ago, Ascension Island was the centre of so many of the activities related to the brief, but tragic war that ensued when the Falklands were invaded.  There are still many people here on Ascension who were a large part of the war effort.  Their presence at the service, and the laying of the wreaths was a reminder, especially to us who watched the events unfold on our television screens from half a world away, that strife and unrest can reach its ugly tentacles to anywhere, and we must be ever vigilant against it.   As well, those who lived through this time, and were intimately involved in it can take pride in their actions, and know that their efforts were deeply appreciated by a grateful nation. 

Both of these events demonstrate however, how fleeting time is.  The 70’s were thirty years ago, the Falklands War happened twenty five years ago.  We always think that we have so much time ahead of us, and suddenly so much time has passed.  Those children I had in the seventies are all adults now.  I have been practicing my profession for thirty years…..it even states that on my professional certification card!  Sometimes it’s scary how fast the time has gone by.  I’ve moved on to a new life, but it was shaped by everything that has happened to me along the way, through altogether too many decades, I sometimes think.

So the lesson I think is to enjoy every minute that we are given by God.  Troubles will come and go, happiness will hopefully be the bedrock of our existence, but time will go marching on.  Seize the day, enjoy all it has to offer, because all too soon it will be a memory.  Make it a happy one.  As the saying goes, today is a gift, that is why it is called the present.

Monsignor McPartland will be arriving on Ascension on the 19^th of June, and staying for a week.  Please join us for Mass at the Grotto on the 24^th.  If anyone would like to visit with the Monsignor, please let me know and I will be sure to arrange it.  He will also be visiting Ascension from the 12^th to the 18^th of July.