OK Degas, &quot;unforseen financial problems&quot;. <i>NOW</i> I know why that check that you <i>SAID</i> was in the mail was never received! The truth comes out at long last. Well if you make any money selling your &quot;ribs&quot; maybe you could pay me a penny on the dollar? Thanks good buddy

Hi LoveItaly

I've been wanting to thank you for all your kind words and encouragement this past week. I do hope you see this.

The wedding from Hell is on Saturday, and my husband and I are almost holding our breath. When it is over, it will be such a relief.

But thank you again for being kind and telling me about your own experience. It has meant a lot to me.

debbie

Oh Debbie, I was feeling a bit &quot;guilty&quot; because after I got back home I knew I needed to make some phone calls. Instead I came onto Fodors. I am glad I did so that I saw your post to me.

Dear one, I really understand how you are feeling...I was so upset and it wasn't even my daughter. The bride to be was the bride of my oldest stepson. A nightmare. My husband (stepson's father) was the one that said &quot;Basta!&quot; which means as I am sure you know &quot;knock it off, enough!&quot; in Italian. And to add to the confusion or humor (your choice) my stepson's mother was the one that called me and asked if I could &quot;do something&quot; about the bride. And noooo, I sure couldn't although I certainly tried. LOL. But believe me I was not laughing at the time.

Debbie, you and your husband will be in my thoughts. And yes, when it is over...than you can both take a big breath. I truly send you my best wishes regarding these coming days and of course Saturday. When you have the energy do post and let us know how you are doing. Hugs to you!!

I remember that when I was a little girl, growing up Catholic, on a couple of very important occasions - probably first Communion and Confirmation, I received a scapular as a gift, which I remember as bing a couple of small squares of wool, one on the front and one on the back, strung together on a lace. Inside the square was a hank of a saint's hair or a piece of bone - some sort of relic of a sainted, departed soul.

Good grief, I'd be so mad if I were a martyr, and a band of relic hunters had hacked off hunks of my hair and scrambled off with bits of my bones to make scapulars for little savages such as myself, who obviously has long since lost these wonderful relics.

Maximus, you can probably find a lock of someone's hair woven in some sort of Victorian locket or watch fob in England. If the person was a practicing, believing Christian, that person was a &quot;saint,&quot; and you would have an antique relic of same.