• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Bishop Robert Barron
          • George Weigel
          • Question Corner
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Suzanna Molino Singleton
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Paul McMullen
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Father T. Austin Murphy Jr.
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • Subscribe

You know you’re lucky when…

Rita Buettner February 19, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

I managed to slip away from the office to go to Mass in the middle of the day. I felt very fortunate to find time for Mass during a busy day in a very full week.As I was driving downtown to the Baltimore Basilica, I wasn’t sure I would make it in time for the mid-day Mass. I never seem to leave enough time to find a parking space. Still, after I passed the church, I turned the corner, and there it was—my dream spot, not far from the church and big enough for my minivan to slide right in. I took this photo from my parking space. It was that good.

After Mass, I headed back to my van. I climbed in and was checking my email on my phone when I heard a truck rumbling up next to me. Then all of a sudden—KAWOOSH!—my car was hit with a tsunami of salt spray, washing over the street, but also the whole side and top of the van.

My children would have been thrilled to see the cascade of liquid over our van. I was just happy my window had been shut.

I had a sudden flashback to the day before when I was walking down the sidewalk when a truck went through a water-filled pothole in the middle of the street and splashed water all over my socks and shoes.

What are the chances that I would have two such interesting and moist encounters in two otherwise dry days?

It has to mean something, right? And I’m going to assume this is just my lucky week.

There are so many things that people say are lucky. There are horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, and rabbit’s feet, of course. Then there’s walking through a spiderweb, getting hit with bird excrement, and rain on your wedding day. And there must be many more.

Getting splashed by a passing truck doesn’t sound lucky. But as I admired the salty crust on my van afterward, I thought of the snow and ice that is coming. Maybe that frigid precipitation will hit my storm-treated car and drop right off onto the road. Maybe, as the snow accumulates everywhere else in the greater Baltimore area, I won’t have to lift a finger to clean the snow off of my van. Or maybe after I do brush the snow off, the crusty salt will all be gone.

Maybe this is my lucky day.

I’ll take it.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner is a wife, working mother and author of the Catholic Review's Open Window blog. She and her husband adopted their two sons from China, and Rita often writes about topics concerning adoption, family and faith.

Rita also writes The Domestic Church, a featured column in the Catholic Review. Her writing has been honored by the Catholic Press Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Associated Church Press.

View all posts from this author

Recent Commentary

Burial in non-Catholic cemetery/ Anxious as death draws near

Doing the impossible

The fish-stick dilemma

Washing dishes for Lent

We need rituals to mourn

Recent Local News

Social Ministry honoree brings Latin America experience to migrant issues

One year in: Families, institutions adjust to ongoing pandemic

Our daily bread: Irish tradition enjoyed on more than St. Patrick’s Day

RADIO INTERVIEW: How to pick a Bible translation

Homebound, Operation CRS Rice Bowl nonetheless raises awareness of hunger

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Bishop Rhoades: Latest COVID-19 vaccine can be used in good conscience
  • Burial in non-Catholic cemetery/ Anxious as death draws near
  • Social Ministry honoree brings Latin America experience to migrant issues
  • Movie Review: ‘Tom & Jerry ‘
  • Doing the impossible
  • ‘Finally,’ pope says he will be able to make pilgrimage to Iraq
  • Pope taps Newark cardinal as member of Congregation for Bishops
  • The fish-stick dilemma
  • Washing dishes for Lent
  • Retired pope talks about his resignation, Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED