​Weathering the Storm with the WP#215

Welcome to another musing by the Wandering Puffin and the events of the past week. Well, first and foremost, I hope everyone had a safe and happy Easter, both Orthodox and Catholic and any other sort that exist and not to forget that Passover essentially coincided with Easter this year and the calendars merged so all the celebrations happened at the same time. It was the same with Christmas and Hanukkah in 2024, when they both landed on the same day, when the Lunar calendar was in line with the Gregorian calendar. This set of events does not happen very often. In fact, maybe 5 times in a century for Christmas and Hanukah, but it happened during this 2024 – 2025 cycle. And it turned out this year, the Orthodox and Catholic Easters coincided, but again, using different calendars and different way to calculate the dates, this event happens every 3 to 4 years. Otherwise, there be differences of 2 to 3 weeks between the respective Easters. ​

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The Gregorian and lunar calendars rarely match for major holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, Easter, and Passover. Hanukkah, which follows the Jewish lunar calendar, starts on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, leading to shifts of 11 days earlier each year compared to the Gregorian calendar. This results in an average of five coincidences between the first night of Hanukkah and Christmas in a century. Easter and Passover, while linked, also have different calendars and dates, often coinciding but not always, due to the Jewish calendar's reliance on the lunar cycle and the inclusion of leap months to align with the solar year. For the matching up of Easters, the Catholic Church uses the Gregorian calendar, while the Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar.

All this detail and calculations mentioned and the coincidences, it was for Rosa and me, a quiet Easter. While she did go to pick up momma at her sister’s house for an Easter meal, Rosa and I did not partake this year, one because there was not a big family gathering as the past two years, one sister was working, and Rosa was guiding, but that is nothing new, and it just was not to be, and I was a bit out of sorts, so laying low was the best thing to do. The event, however, here in Rome and for Catholics around the world, and it is coincidence, perhaps, but a sad event, nevertheless, of Pope Francis passing away on Easter Day. I suppose this is rather fitting for this to happen. No event like this is a happy occasion, but given it was Easter and what is represents, I feel that this is a celebration of life, most appropriate for the head of the Catholic Church. ​

I am neither Catholic, nor Christian, nor religious in any way, but the idea of Christ Risen which is Easter and the passing of the Pope makes sense. It was not planned, of course and he did what he had to do in giving the blessings to world, so in his own way, he went out with a bang. Godspeed to you. I won’t get into politics on the other side of the pond. Oh, and while the Pope was head of Vatican City, not Italy, the Italian flags around Rome and I suspect around the country are at half-mast.  Francis’ body will lie in state and can be seen before he is buried. I do not recall for how long, and then let the Conclave begin. For those who do not know what this is, it is essentially the election by the College of Cardinals who all come to the Vatican to pick a new pope. This process can take several weeks and as I learned, if there are cardinals that are age 80 and over, they are not able to even vote or become a Pope. In any case, there will be black smoke and there will ultimately be white smoke coming from a cast-iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel. One of the stoves is used to burn the cardinals' ballots and the other is to send puffs of black or white smoke up above, so in the next few weeks, a new leader will emerge. It will interesting to see what happens. ​

It is also full swing in spring and the flowers are blooming and so are the sinuses. Sorry to go from such a high moment to such a, well nasally transition. I have always had sinus problems my whole life and nothing like flowers blooming, grass growing and leaves bursting out so the birds and bugs can prosper in the wealth of color, but it too, shall pass. I have plenty of potions to get me through and I will keep trudging along. Also, while my travel season was just starting to click a few weeks ago, it is now in full swing and so never a dull moment. Lots to do and of course, the teaching. I have to re-adjust my timing on everything, so that I do not fall behind. The interesting thing about the teaching, especially this time of year, and theories abound about how many cancellations by students there are. Maybe it is the weather, but also it is a holiday week, the pope’s passing and the mood in the city is much more serene. Rosa even said that the Vatican, where she was yesterday, was quite calm and the very noisy busses at night that I take to and from the school were quite quiet, even though they were still full. ​

I guess, not much else to speak about on this last week of holiness and that is fine. I am still awaiting the arrival of my worldly possessions and continue plowing through the work at hand. April is almost over, and I must say, the weather outside is beautiful. I suspect while the number of students at the school will be reduced going into late spring and early summer, the business is certainly picking up and I am appreciative of that. It is always a balance, so as I always say, stay healthy, safe, and most importantly, happy, in this crazy world in which we find ourselves, wherever you are in the world. Rosa and I thank you for your support of our crazy little world. I was thinking, given I have a block of time with no school to get out of the city for a few days, but we will see, and there is much to keep me busy here in Rome.