Today was Pancake Day in Ireland. I'm not sure what exactly it's all about, but apparently it's in some way related to Jesus. A lot of things here are. I didn't see it coming, Pancake Day, but looking back on it, it seems so obvious. The other day I was in a taxi and there was a radio show talking about pancakes. Yeah, that was a little weird, but not extraordinary. Then, in the Spar, (it's like 7-11) they had a whole special shelf of pancake mixes. I remember cackling because they had some labeled "American Style." Spar has an entire line of "American Style" products, like Apple Pie Cookies and American Cola. I heard people exchanging recipes in hushed tones on the bus. Pancakes have been in the air for over a week.

Then today I get to work, and they have pancakes in the canteen being made fresh right there on the spot for us. And there was fresh fruit. I haven't had decent fruit in nearly a year, but today I had at least a full cup of blueberries. (The other day I almost bought some raspberries, but at $9 for under a cup, I just couldn't do it.) It was amazing. Apparently this is somehow related to Lent and Jesus and suffering, but the only suffering I could see is the result of these crazy people only eating pancakes one day a year.

Living in a Catholic country is a strange thing. One day I saw a man ride his bike past a the church near my house and do the sign of the cross while still on the bicycle. Look Ma, no hands! He's probably got a stack of pancakes today.