Cardinal John O'Conner of NYC

My all-too brief meeting of this fine gentleman of the Catholic Archdiocese of NYC occurred back in '91 in Lourdes, France. It was my first trip overseas, and my first to lovely Lourdes in the south of France. I was there for a religious pilgrimage to the Lourdes Domain, and O'Conner was there for a testimonial dinner. I've never been to such functions, and was a bit unnerved by it all. Another disabled man was seated right next to O'Connor. I was at a table nearby. As the Cardinal approached me to introduce himself, I felt a weird fluttering I've never f felt before in my stomach. I shook his hand and fumbled about not knowing the exact protocol as to how to address him. He put me at ease quickly by saying, "Just call me Cardinal." I don't recall the rest of our brief conversation. That same day, in Japan, President Bush, Senior barfed on the Japanese Prime Minister's lap, and had passed out. I thought, "Oh, no! Quaill could be the new Prez! I don't wanna go home!