… or rather Ash Wednesday that happens on a Tuesday.  Ash what?!  I know … when I told people around me that I have to MIA for an hour due to Ash Wednesday, quite a few didn’t know what it is.  And when I am back with ashes on my forehead, the concerned ones would pull me aside and tell me that there is dirt on my forehead (ps: thank you!).  On the street, there are usually three types of people.  Most see it without really seeing it (ain’t we all too occupied on the street?).  Some do a double take on my forehead probably wonder what it is.  A minority few actually smile at me … which is nice.

Let me do my part in raising the awareness of what Ash Wednesday is all about, in a rather short and sweet manner.  Roman Catholics throughout the world observes Ash Wednesday in the form of fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance.  During Mass, ashes are put onto our foreheads to remind us to turn away from sin, be faithful to the Gospel, as well as we are all dust and unto dust we shall return.  40 days from Ash Wednesday is … ?  Easter of course!

I certainly welcome taking a break from the mundane office life and to attain a 1.15pm lunch time Mass at the Cathedral.  The downside is of course to have ashes on my forehead till sunset (that’s the tradition).  Cynthia and I often joke that the more sins one has, the bigger the ‘ash mark’ is going to be.  Deep inside, we – or at least I – secretly hope that the priest or the minister has mercy and try not to make the ‘ash mark’ all too obvious … ha ha ha.  Bad eh?  And here are the tips to make the mark as subtle as possible (disclaimer: results not guaranteed) but not make it disappears.  Otherwise, what’s the point in having ashes on our foreheads?

• Quietly seat yourself strategically somewhere that you are not the first in line to receive the ashes and yet able to see what everybody are getting.  You see, some priests or ministers have strong hands and large thumbs (sadly, mine today) and tend to leave a rather prominent and huge ‘ash mark’ onto your forehead.  Some are more gentle when applying the ashes.  Once you found what you want, wiggle your way into the right queue!
• Grow your fringe beforehand.  Pull it back before the ashes are applied, let it down afterwards.
• Have a “Sign here” or rather “Press here” sticker at the corner of your head.  That way, it is much easier to somewhat cover it up with your fringe.

OK.  Enough humor for the day.  Back to something serious.  After Cynthia and I received the ashes, as we always do for the past don’t-know-how-many-years, we looked at our foreheads and asked, “So, how was it?”  I stared at her forehead and said, “It has a nice cross shape … pretty faint.”  Cynthia let out a sign of relief.  I looked at her in anticipation and …

“It’s … big.  It’s dark.  Certainly looks like a thumb print,” Cynthia said.  Realizing that I looked more and more concerned, she waved her hand as a matter of look-silly-it-is-not-that-bad and said, “It is more like an extension of your fringe.”

Oh gosh.  That’s bad.  I will try to sin lesser this coming year …

PS. For those who wonder why Ash Wednesday falls onto a Tuesday instead, it is because tomorrow is Chinese New Year Eve so the Pope brings forward the event for one day.  That way, we can still celebrate our Chinese New Year Eve in the traditional way (imagine a Chinese reunion dinner without meat).