I am the awakest (it's a word, okay?).  I was plenty sleepy at 10.  But not at 2.  At 2 I'm wide awake.

I have to be up at 6.  Because I have to go to mass with my dad at 8.  That's right.  I'm going to church in the morning.  For the first. time. in. my. life.

I am twenty-eight, I am liberal, I am Atheist, but I am going to mass in the Most Conservative Catholic Diocese in the Nation because I'm hoping it will save my father's life.  We have a deal, you see.

My father is an alcoholic.  He is a good person; he is well-intentioned, but he is going to die if he continues down this path.  So, I cut a deal.  We even shook on it.  For one year, he will go to Alcoholics Anonymous and he will not drink.  In return, my brothers and I will go to church every Sunday and after a year, if he is still sober, we will get baptized.

With any luck, the promise of our bright and shiny saved souls will be the sort of motivation that my dad needs to stop himself from drinking and stick around for a bit.

To church I go!