My First Communion

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My First Communion

"Sons of God, hear  this holy word, gather round the table of the word, eat his body, drink his blood, and will sing a song of love.  A le lu     Al le lu   Al le lu ia - - - Brothers, Sisters we are one and our life has just begun --- In the Spirit we are one --- We will live forever ---- A le lu    A le lu   Al le lu ia" 
 Its been nearly 40 - 45 years since I've sang that song, but many many years ago it was a song we sang weekly at catechism class, and for some reason it stands out in my memory.  I don't remember alot, but I do remember sitting at a long rectangular table at St. Marks Church in Garden City learning about God, the tennents of the faith and sharpening my concience , as a reverential fear of God was instilled within me.  The Ten Commandements were just that, COMMANDMENTS, they were not suggestions or the ten choices, they were a matter of life or death, an accepted or condemned future, an invitation to heaven or hell.  Thats pretty serious stuff.
  And then the BIG day finally came, my First Communion.  A very special day indeed, dressed in a short sleeved white lace dress that fell just above the knee, with a silky slip underneath, white ruffled anklet socks folded over with a tiny pink ribbon attached and shiney white patent leather shoes, I walked down the long narrow church aisle as proud onlookers smiled and knowledge of a celebration afterwards at the Woolworths Counter for hot chocolate awaited me. 
  In all my revelry and excitement I accidently bumped over that cup of hot chocolate and it spilled onto my pretty white dress like patchwork.  Mom was incredibly patient and understanding as she napkin dried the spots and puddle of chocolate that landed on my lap.  My dress now had the look of a brown spotted cow.  Getting off of that high round red stool with its faux leather cover and tall silver legs and a double circlular base, was a long step, but even with those fresh brown stains I still felt special having achieved my First Communion and partaking of that round white wafer referred to as a host.  Now I could join the bigger kids and grown ups.  That was a really big deal for the youngest member of the family who usually was just tagging along.