Off to Church and the September RAP

Turns out the theme for September's Ride Around Pomona was especially apropos for the task I had set for myself today,

But first...

I must have still been in grade school, the later years, maybe even sixth grade when, one summer Sunday morning Dad said, "I'm not going to church today." For such a simple, straight-forward statement I still recall the feeling of my lower jaw hitting the ground - thud. Was that really an option, and for how long had it been an option? I don't recall who was first off the mark in response, my brother or I, but the thought of not having to dress up, sit on those hard-wood pews, and listen to that guy drone on and on, had us both echoing the sentiment - "well, if dad's not going, I'm not going." 

Mom, of course, was having none of that rebellion, and quickly moved to shut it down, "no," she said, "get changed, we are all going to church." It was the first time I could recall mom and dad not being on the same page. Their discussion of the matter, out of earshot I imagine, since I don't remember anything about it, resulted in dad carrying the day. 

Again, "well, if dad's not going..."

To my complete surprise, this led to another relenting, "If you don't go to church, you're going to stay here and do yard work." The alternative may have involved that word work, but it was a trade I was gladly willing to make any time. And I have not looked back since.

Which, of course (or not), brings us back around to the RAP, a little tour of some of the City of Pomona's oldest churches.

this bunch came off a side street onto Cambridge / Mountain; somewhere along San Antonio I pulled over to see why they were following me - headed the same place, of course 😀

John "the fixer" Trendler getting his hands dirty

on the road

first stop, first church in downtown Pomona

on the road again

John "the fixer" Trendler at it again

next church

on the road again, again

Pea-fowl of P-Town

'nother church

regroup in the oaks

the usual post-ride refreshments at Mi Cafecito

my task for the day - Our Lady of the Assumption, one of the most recently completed projects of Architerra Design Group (my employer for these many years), of which I had a hand in the design. The courtyard came out quite nice, if I say so myself.