Rodriguez: Days of Lent have begun

Mondays are Manic or Miracle Mondays. Tuesdays are Taco Tuesday, or Tejano Tuesday, as I call them. Today, Wednesday, is Hump Day. I hate that term. Thursday is Throwback Thursday and Friday is … well … what more need I say?

As for today though, today is the day after Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras. And so it's that solemn time of year again which always follows the huge New Orleans style last-party-before-Lent-begins. Today is Ash Wednesday. If you happen to see me walking around with a huge black mark on my forehead, no, I didn't get into a bar room brawl. I didn't get carried away with my eyeliner. I didn't crash into an ash tray. And no, I didn't get a tattoo.

I will be wearing my ashes with humble pride.

I'm not into oxymorons, though sometimes I feeling like I am a gallery for oxymorons. I've thought about wiping my Ash Wednesday ashes off before, to avoid being viewed as the “hypocrite who loves to pray in the synagogues and on street corners.” But then, I'm like, it's even more humbling to let people think what they will, watch them nudge elbows and get a chuckle out of it myself as I also think of the significance of the solemn words the priest utters, “You are dust and to dust you shall return” as he stamps them on my forehead during Mass. Now that's good for the bruised ego. It's also nourishment for the spiritual ego.

Now back to the days of the week. Fridays during Lent become Fish Fridays, and, if my son-in-law, Nino, is lucky, they become Helena's Cajun-Lime Catfish Fry Fridays. If I get my wish this Lenten season, forget Taco Tuesday. How about Fish Taco Friday? I'm craving grilled fish tacos.

Fish Tacos Friday sounds great, but perhaps a little too tasty for what is supposed to be a meatless fast. I remember Father Juan Montoya — may he rest in peace — chiding people for turning what is supposed to be a Friday of fasting into a festive feast. “And so we play these games …” I remember him saying. “…Oh, pobrecito mi! I have to eat at Red Lobster!”

And so, that begs the question: What is a humble meatless meal? Beans, potatoes and tortillas? Or the inexpensive, but tasty, fried salmon and corn patties that Grandma Emma use to make on Lenten Fridays? To some, that's a feast.

Helena Rodriguez is a Portales native. Contact her at:

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