So Rachel was all, “Hey, I’m going to St. Augustine to get my National Parks Passport stamped,” and I was like, “Oh yeah, I just got one of those,” so she says, “Totally crash the Milota Sibling St. A Expedition,” And I said, “Rock on.”
So we discoed down I-95 just doing our best to stay alive and got our stamps and cheered, “high five!” in the national park on Castle Drive. Or where ever.
Turns out there’s a teeny tunnel leading to an old powder magazine that was sealed up a hundred years ago, then re-found during maintenance with trash and skeletons in it. That’s my worst fear, just going about my business doing maintenance or vacuuming or something and boom—skeleton. But anyway, so Rachel and I both shimmied through the hallway only to go eeek! and scootch back out. It’s all damp and claustrophobic in there, and even though the skeletons are gone, it’s a little too close for comfort knowing they were chillin in there fo
r a long time.
Especially because when you’re really sick and out of it (hm, like in that hostel in London three weeks ago) and you keep waking up not really knowing where you are, but it’s dark and you need help so you make ‘I’m sick’ noises and no one hears you so you eventually fall back asleep—what if you’re a prisoner and sick like that, but then you wake up and you’re in a damp, hot, stuffy room that smells like moldy gun powder and you think, “Wait, weren’t they going to wall up that room?” then fall back asleep…yikes! Yes, so not much time was spent in that creepy room. Disclaimer: the fort officials say it was just a trash dump right before being walled up and that’s it—no foul play. Sure, I mean why should we bury this guy when no one will find him…ever…in here…. Ok anywho.
Rachel’s brother had the good idea to go in Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, founded September 8, 1565. Surprise! It’s Spanish in style. I did not know this about the candles for Catholic prayers: the church bulletin said praying in front of a candle helps focus your thoughts and keep from getting distracted or off topic. Leaving a candle lit in the church leaves the intention of praying there while the candle is burning. I like the part about using it to focus; my prayers are too easily distracted. But if praying is about getting your heart right before God, and he knows our thoughts and intentions, I don’t think he’s satisfied with a flame in place of our hearts. I guess it depends whether lighting the candle is checking off a box and forgetting about it or leaving a symbol of the matters in our heart even though we can’t linger any longer. Your thoughts?