The hairdresser, the Pope, and the trip to Rome

[Doreen Peri]

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded: "Rome ? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty! You're crazy to go to Rome . So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate! "

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome ?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome 's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?"

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome .

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city . They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican , a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say ?

He said, "Where'd you get the shitty hairdo?"

[judih]

(how do you say 'shitty' in latin?)

[joel]

I met Benedict XVI about six months before he was whom he now is. Back in his Cardinal Ratzinger days he didn't use much Latin...back leading early morning mass in the chapel of the cemetary of the crusader Teutonic Knights on the edge of the Vatican Gardens. He led mass auf Deutsch and gruffed his way passed the twenty-thirty sunrise faithful. Since I'm only catholic with a small "c", I didn't have all the desire to press up on him, but those who did (former home-town believers excited by their bishop-turned-prince) got polite/stern "Step-Backs." I had been to the general audience of JP2 the day before. He was not quite an ant, more of a large motel cockroach in size...and again, this is months before his death. JP2 was far away, but he had the names of the groups read to him...and when they called "Collegium Oecumenicum Muenchen"--well, small "c" catholic or not, he had me stand with the others and blessed us.

Perhaps Benny is a different man than the Cardinal was. Or maybe he just didn't like my lack-of-hair-do. (When the sitting pope is sitting far enough away, the shittiest of dos don't seem to catch the eye.)

Great story, Doreen!

[Doreen Peri]

good question, jude... lol

....
joel, this is a negativity lesson joke. Who wants to be around people like that? Feel free to adapt it for one of your sermons. A pastor who can make the congregation laugh is a treat. (don't worry, you wouldn't be stealing it from me. I didn't write it. I stole it from someone who emailed it to me. )

ps cool story about you meeting the pope. You made me laugh with your "lack-of-hair" do. heh