Masons and Megachurch

The Masons opened their lodge to the public a week or two ago--they gave tours, answered questions, and there was a fundraiser dinner. Here are some of the things I saw: A book called The Great Psychological Crime--it had a chapter called "post-mortem hypnosis."; a fragment of stone from the corner of King Solomon's Temple. I learned that the Grand Master sits to the East. No one sits to the North because it is too far from the sun. I found a program for a Service of Remembrance. It opens: "It is the hour when the veil of the Temple was rent in twain, when darkness resigned and consternation oppressed all the earth. When the Flaming Star was eclipsed and the shadow overcame the Light; when the Columns and Working Tools of the old Masonry were shattered and when the Cubicle Stone sweated water and blood; the instant when the word was lost."
Two days later I visited a Baptist MegaChurch. I forgot my notetaking tools. Here is what I remember: County police direct traffic in and out of the church parking lot. It looked just like on TV, and if you wanted, you could make it exactly like TV by watching one of the two giant TVs. Nobody was sweating or fainting. The pastor started off with a sexist joke. Every body laughed. The music had neither the solemnity of hymns in say, the Methodist or Episcopalien or Catholic churches. Nor did it have the charisma of gospel or the pentecostal churches. We left early.

who knew this song was so good

Faith in action

Fled

Today I had an interview appt. at Books-a-Million. It was a desperate move; I've worked there before. Christmas had been the final straw that sent me running for an MFA program. So now I have the MFA, and well, you know.
I was ok when I went in. But then I saw someone who used to work with me there and she STILL works there. And she is excited. Because soon they will really and truly keep their promise to raise her pay to 7.25 an hour.
Could I take a job where I make less than my son makes bagging groceries? It's money, right?
Then the computer went down, and my former co-worker brightly informed a customer, "could be 3 minutes or 3 days." And then she reminded me that I had to sell discount cards, and the pressure's on for magazines too.
All this time, the rather hefty (more butt than stool) manager talked to the appt. before me and ignored me. I asked my former co-worker to tell him I was there. She laughed. Time passed. I caught his eye. Time passed.
Then I started straightening books. A lump formed in my throat. My fight or flight impulses kicked in. I chose the safe and obvious course: Flight.
I know something will turn up.
Where I make more than my kid.. It's just got to.

Debut

and a stunning debut, I might add.