"Thomas Tittmann, do you continue to take Eileen to be your companion...helper...encourager...consoler...friend...?"
"I STILL DEW!"
--alternate title: "And a little child will lead us..."
In the short space of his 36 years, John has taken both Eileen and I further along our individual and collective paths...He has lead...by his example...
The Police Officer said, "Tom, you'd better make a decision about Eileen!"
NYPD Officer Tony challenged me with these words after dinner on a Fall '72 Charismatic Renewal weekend retreat at the Bishop Molloy Retreat House in Jamaica, Queens.
I was attending with my girlfriend, Eileen. Geez, as a young single guy, I just went on this weekend to have fun, sing songs and have somebody else cook and clean for me...
"Better go upstairs, son, and make up your mind..."
Well, I followed his advice...went up to my room where I wrestled with all kinds of critters...figuring I could make a rational decision about what was really a matter for the heart...and spirit...
After many hours of confusion...tears fell, mimicking the outside weather...and I finally surrendered and asked for help...and a peace came over me...
I went downstairs to the lounge, found Eileen and asked her to come upstairs...where I proposed to her in her room...We were married the following April (the 2nd) in the Passionist Monastery in Jamaica, Queens...
"We met in a bar...I proposed to you in a retreat house...and we got married in a monastery..."
...and we live HOPEFULLY ever after...
After he pulled us over and "cuffed" us, Eileen & I followed this Police Officer to Cincinnati...
Sometime after we agreed to "marry our 'fortunes' together", Eileen and I accepted an invitation to join Officer Tony and some others from our prayer group and visit the New Jerusalem Intentional Community in Cincinnati. His hope was "TO DO" something like this back home on Long Island. Once there, we slept and ate in members' homes, celebrated "G-d" together and were introduced to the pastoral leadership of Franciscan Richard Rohr...
...and we've been learning from his alternative orthodoxy ever since...Because of their letters: O.F.M (Order of Friars Minor), I like to experience the Franciscan perspectives as a
MINORITY OPINION
We are so fortunate to still be traveling with friends from these early days...
In penning this post, I found this YouTube channel created to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this movement of relationship and unity:
New Jerusalem Movie 1976 BW (35:30) (Richard in 1976)
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM Shares Some Reflections on New Jerusalem (16:27) (Richard in 2021)
1 + 1 = 3
Eileen, because you lovingly accepted my seed and nourished it...WE were gifted with...
1 JOHN...
...to take the music of our lives...add his...and "go out into the world..."
"...and make music students of all nations and ages..."
...and more...
"DEW" to his very eclectic tastes in music, John had a bigger collection of tunes than I ever did at his age...and they included...YES...the Grateful Dead...
EILEEN, Thank you for waiting...many times...and seasons...
Beginning in the Summer of '73 when I relocated to California...You waited for me...
And throughout the ensuing 46 years, you've waited for me to "come to my senses" and realize what a gift you were...are...and will be...for me...
I saved this last dance for US...
WHEN THE MUSIC'S OVER...
