..sometimes means, “I love you”
January 26, 2010 (Tuesday)
The pope lives in the papal apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace. There are about 10 rooms in the apartment, and more than 11,000 in the Vatican.
I, too, sleep alone in a pretty big house when I’m in Rockport. When in Houston, I sleep alone in a small cottage owned by the Timbergrove Baptist Church. The house in Houston has two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and a bath. It’s quite comfortable for one old coot. Unlike the Waltons, I have no one to whom I can say good night.
The Waltons T.V. series 30 or so years ago related the experiences of a big family in a big old house. At the conclusion of each episode in the series, everyone said goodnight. Here’s an excerpt from the script of Episode 1, Season 2 (September 13, 1973):
John: Goodnight, Erin, ‘night, Mary Ellen.
Mary Ellen: Goodnight Daddy goodnight Mama.
Olivia: Goodnight Mary Ellen, goodnight Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: Goodnight Mama, goodnight Jason.
Jason: Goodnight Elizabeth, goodnight everybody.
Many families follow certain rituals at bedtime. A kiss goodnight, a bedtime story, a tuck in, an exchange of “I love you,” a hug, bedtime prayers, or some other act that says, “this is a family and we love each other.” What a wonderful thing to do.