March 25, 2024
Monday of Holy Week (Feast of the Annunciation transferred to April 8)
Feast of St. Dismas (the Good Thief)
Day of the beginning of Dante’s journey in the Inferno
Out of the blue we learn that the shabby little Planned Parenthood office here on LaGrange, which we vigil-keepers had more or less assumed could not stay viable much longer — it seemed to get so little use — is actually expanding into a 1,500 square foot “health center.” The ribbon-cutting was today, shown on the afternoon news. If we had had a bit of Joy’s energy, we could have done something to rent those empty offices — have a fundraiser — have a plan — get a budget — make phone calls — something. PP sweeps in with its hundreds of millions and takes the empty space, only and precisely when (I daresay) they can plan to recoup their investment through abortion pill sales especially. the Supreme Court hears arguments tomorrow about whether or not the FDA overstepped in allowing abortion pills to be dispensed without a doctor’s involvement.
Coincidentally I gave away the first three copies of my book recently. A neighbor took one from our giving table in the foyer, and I (asked permission and) left one with Pedro and with Joy.
I might have done better to have spent the last five years telephoning the Greek mafia owners of that building, to negotiate prices, but perhaps that is only mock self-pity. It may be they kept the rooms purposefully empty for years, foreseeing this expansion. We vigil-keepers used to congratulate ourselves on the emptiness. We thought decent businesses were staying away from a foul area and that we were helping.
Note: I have a copy of Grandma’s book, which is impressive but a little scattershot; she would have been the first to agree, it is hard to be your own editor.
As far as the “Greek mafia”: I think she is exaggerating. It may be what she means is, I’m too shy to make phone calls to professional men when I have no means to follow through on any financial question I am asking. Also they have Greek names. E.B.