Eternal Clout

In the old days, if you had clout you were a mover and a shaker, and probably you were more powerful than a speeding locomotive (but not more powerful than Superman). When you spoke, people listened or sometimes asked “How high?” when you needed someone to jump.

Now everyone has clout and it can be measured. According to the online company Klout (http://klout.com/understand/klout), everyone has influence. As long as you’re online, that is. And tweeting, blogging, posting, retweeting, commenting on blogs and posts…basically running your mouth via your fingers. No more “Let Your Fingers Do The Walking”; now it’s “Let Your Fingers Do The Talkin’”.

Clout – whether you have it or not, how you use it or abuse it – is as old as the earth. Just ask Adam when you get to heaven. Or, hearken back to childhood to hear those threatening words “Because I said so!” or “Wait until your father gets home!” Usually, the people you associated with having clout were either older and wiser, or just a whole lot bigger than you.

Clout is pretty handy to have in some places. Like advancing your career. Getting a table at a nice restaurant. And, um, getting a table at a nice restaurant.

Sure, it’s great to be someone who can make things happen and it’s nice to know people who can do the same. I would put God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) in the first category. Other than that, I can’t think of a single person who would, in the eternal long run, have enough clout to set me up for Life.

I do a lot of reading about social media for my job; some days it’s hard to keep up with all the articles about online “do’s” and “don’ts” or social faux pas. I recently saw one (and posted a link on Facebook) about the 12 Things You Should Never Post On Facebook. I took exception to some of the “don’ts” because a) I never did like other people telling me what to do and b) one simply just needs to use common sense and courtesy and c) if you don’t like what you see, then unfriend the uncouth idiots…er, friends.

But then you’d lose clout. Oh well.

Dearly Beloved

This weekend we were back in Pittsburgh for a wedding. The oldest daughter of my own matron of honor (over 30 years ago) was married at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oakland. Not every church building can be a cathedral. Some are smaller and simpler, like my former church in Pittsburgh; I am sure that when it was built over 50 years ago, it was what the congregation could afford at the time and it probably embraced the architectural trend of the Sixties, but the feelings it evokes are more along the lines of God as friend…familiar, comforting.

There’s just something about a cathedral that puts you squarely in the presence of the majestic, awesome God. Soaring ceilings, long aisles, pulpits that rise above the congregation causing you to crane your head upward and focus your eyes on the cross. The beautiful pipe organ (no, Bill, it will not fit on the boat) is part of the grandeur. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd in a cathedral but more importantly, it’s a place to lose your “self” and let God fill you up.

The reception was held at the Edgeworth Country Club, where our friends Cathy and Charlie Kelly have been members since they moved back to The Burgh in 1987, and where I’ve enjoyed quite a few Kelly daughters' birthday parties and plays.

We were honored to be seated at the same table with the bride’s parents and grandparents and the Jesuit priest who conducted yesterday’s wedding ceremony and that of Cathy and Charlie 32 years ago.


















Caitlin and Bobby also made the New York Times! How about that! The photo used in the article was taken by Cathy last year upon Caitlin's engagement in Naples, Florida.

Sisters Courtney and Erin were co-maids of honor.