So in her most endearing running ten steps forward and two steps back way, my friend Marianne finally came across the post on my blessed funny women.  You remember the one where I begged her to let me publish the now famous Our Lady of the Stink Eye Story that saves my life every once in a while, the one that makes me laugh more than anything else.  Following permission granted in her own words:

Just found this in my email. Thanks a mil – you are a doll and right back atcha baby. Publish away. I have a league of souls released from Purgatory on my side.  All Souls Day in grammar school – three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys, and Three Glory Bes, another soldier working tirelessly to save my soul.

I knew from a very early age I would need all the help I could get.

Much love,

M

The story of Our Lady is legend.

It was around 5^th grade, I think, after school, about 5 of us were playing around the Our Lady of Fatima/Lourdes Grotto. (The one with the 3 kids) Anyway, Our Blessed Mother was raised on a Grotto about 8 feet high with a fountain in front and the kneeling kids. Behind her statue was a wall we used to run up and down and jump off. We were playing tag one day and I was chasing someone up the wall when I lost my balance and reached out to Mary to steady myself (and really now, isn’t that what we’ve always been taught to do?) Well Mary must have been tipping a few that day, wasn’t all that steady herself and toppled head first into the fountain breaking her head right off her neck.

We all stood frozen for about 5 seconds – just long enough for me to threaten a slow and painful death to a squealer and then we beat feet home like our butts were on fire.

The whole next week there was a full-blown investigation, threats of excommunication, damnation, you name it. A few times, when I would see one of my posse start to sweat or weaken, I’d deliver the “stink eye” and they would keep their mouths shut for another day.  To this day, no one ever found out who decapitated Mary.

BTW, I made my Communion, Confirmation and was married at that church.  I’ve always checked to see if the head is still glued on or if they sprung for a new statue. The head is still glued on.

Also, one of my first lessons in the strength of a powerful female.

Yours in Christ (and His Mother),

M