Sunday at the Zoo

I wasn't at the zoo but that is how it unfortunately felt like this morning at Mass. I messed up and ended up at the 9:30 instead of the 8:00 o'clock Mass. It used to be that the parents controlled their children. Three strikes and you are out. No more. The mother in front of me helped her five year old finish a dinosaur puzzle, the three year old was hushed every minute or so by either father or mother who did not mind hushing the child but were oblivious of the effect to the rest of us. Then on my right it got even worse. A father smiled vapidly as his two small daughters thought this was play time. The two girls in front of me decided to use the pew for acrobatics. Nothing like sharing the antics of small unruly children in church. We were not perfect either but my father would have given me ONE look and that would have quieted me for the next two hours if needed. Can't imagine that the Rabbi was happy with this. The sound of the choir was nice - first time I heard them. Dress code? Oy-vey! I don't care if they come in bathing suits if they are out of sight but if they are half naked in front of you that's a bit much. What happened to plain white blouses and black skirts and slacks? That would be a more reverent picture. Well, it was not a good morning - I guess you can tell.