Ed Conrad
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(This column by Ed Conrad appeared in the Hazleton (Pa.)
Standard-speaker newspaper on Easter Sunday in 2002.)
==============
It's Easter morning -- Happy Easter, everyone -- and what
a great morning to touch on a subject very, very close to
your heart.
Your Guardian Angel!
You've heard mention of Guardian Angels for years and years
-- associated with different religions (naturally), in movies,
in books, on TV -- but few folks, I'm sure, have really given
serious thought that they HAVE a Guardian Angel.
Most undoubtedly figure it's nothing more than the figment
of someone's imagination -- and perhaps a bit of wishful thinking.
But, based on a novel experiment conducted right here at the
Standard-Speaker, it appears that the reality of Guardian Angels
is more than we could ever imagine.
For example, it appears that our Guardian Angels actually can
communicate with us -- letting us know his or her name.
Still a skeptic, huh? Then read on . . .
HOW THE BALL GOT ROLLING
It all began about 10 years ago when my late mother visited
the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa near Doylestown (Pa.).
Upon returning home, she excitedly revealed that she had met
an Italian woman -- a senior citizen like herself -- and they
clicked instantly.
During one of their numerous conversations, the woman asked
my mother: "Anna, what's your Guardian Angel's name?"
My mother was flabbergasted, shocked at the question, for
which she obviously had no answer.
The woman then explained that everyone can learn the name of
his or her Guardian Angel simply by asking, then told my mother:
"Before you fall asleep tonight, just say, 'Guardian Angel,
I know you're with me all the time but I don't know your name.
Please let me know your name.' "
Simple! And perhaps a bit far-fetched. Still, my mother tried it.
The next day, Mom enthusiastically phoned and told me she
had learned that her Guardian Angel's name was Noel. She said
the name was solidly embedded in her head when she woke up.
GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY
Rather skeptical that it would work for me, I attempted the
experiment myself that very night. Lo and behold, I awoke the
next morning with the name Girard ringing in my ears. I've
never known a Girard.
Well, that might've well been the end of the story -- but it
wasn't!
About two weeks ago -- after 10 long years -- I casually
mentioned the incident in the Standard-Speaker newsroom
when the subject of Guardian Angels came up and, I admit,
my story undoubtedly sounded quite hokey to most who
were listening.
But the next morning, Annette Rusnock, the newspaper's
editorial librarian, was wearing a broad smile when she walked
into the news room and proudly announced that she tried the
"experiment" to get her Guardian Angel's name and awoke
"with the name Isabella, Isabella, Isabella."
"Hmmm!" said Rosella Walker, who works near her. "I'm
going to try it tonight."
Rosella did and came in the next morning happily revealing
that it had worked for her as well, getting the name Gertrude.
"And, the thing is, I don't know any Gertrude's," Rosella said.
"The only Gertrude I know is Gertrude's Chocolates."
GUARDIAN ANGELS GALORE
Well, strange things kept happening in the newspaper building.
Joanna Marsicano of the classified advertising department
tried it and happily revealed that her Guardian Angel's name:
lso Isabella.
She said when she saw her name in large, bright lights when
she woke up, the last letter "a" in Isabella kept flashing and
flashing, emphasizing that the "a" is to be pronounced.
"Just like I'm not Joann but JoannA, my Guardian Angel undoubtedly
wanted me to be sure I knew her name was IsabellA and not Isabell,"
she remarked.
"To learn I have a Guardian Angel and, especially, to know her
name has made me very happy," said Joanna. "It really made my day."
Mark Katchur, a staff writer (now managing editor), said he wanted
to know if he could also get his Guardian Angel's name and said he
woke up knowing positively it's Daniel.
Joanne Suglia, also from classified department, tried it and beamed
while telling everyone that she learned her Guardian Angel's name
is Estelle.
As the story circulated throughout the building, Lois Ann Hall and
Nadine Kubilus of the business office, Kathy Breznak and Al Danko
of the advertising department, and Vicki Gennaro of the newsroom
all tried it as well -- and enthusiastically said it worked!
Lois Ann excitedly said she had requested the name of her Guardian
Angel when she went to bed.
"But I awoke about 6:30 the next morning and was sort of disappointed
that nothing happened," she said. "But I laid down again and fell
asleep and, when I got up, the name Marjorie was everywhere."
THE NAMES KEEP ROLLING IN
Kathy said she was afraid to try the experiment but, while about to
fall asleep one night last week, finally did so. She awoke with the
name Michael indelibly impressed upon her.
Danko couldn't believe it when he tried the experiment and learned
his Guardian Angel's name is Justin.
Vicki said her question also had been answered when she awoke
with a name ringing in her ears. At first, she admitted she was reluctant
to reveal it because it sounded a bit scary but then -- eventually --
she told the newsroom staff the name she came up with was Azriel.
The latest to attempt the experiment and discover it really works
was George Fetchko of the composing room.
He tried it and learned his Guardian Angel's name is Adam.
It has worked in the majority of cases but, to be perfectly honest,
didn't work for two or three people and the answer escapes us.
Perhaps these Standard-Speaker staffers hadn't made their request
with sincerity.
ISABELLA, ISABELLA, ISABELLA
If there's a fly in the ointment -- to readers still skeptical -- it
would be the name of the Guardian Angel of Nadine Kubilus, the
third to say she came up with Isabella.
It means a Guardian Angel named Isabella popped up three times
to women working at the Standard-Speaker and it's anybody's guess
if there are three Guardian Angels named Isabella or one Isabella
is working three shifts, for three gals here at the newspaper.
Someone suggested that Nadine -- the third Isabella -- probably
heard that Annette Rusnock and Joanna Marsicano both had come
up with Isabella, independent of each other.
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But Nadine insisted that she hadn't been aware of the names that
Annette and Joanna had come up with.
"In fact, I learned my Guardian Angel's name before Joanna because
it happened to me last Thursday morning (a day before Joanna learned
her Guardian Angel's name)," said Nadine. "I just didn't say anything
when I came to work Friday morning."
One last word: These are sound, sensible people who have held
responsible positions, most for many, many years. There is no
reason they would be lying or be part of any type of con job.
You, too, are invited to learn your Guardian Angel's name, and
your belief -- or disbelief -- in an existence beyond our physical
realm appears to have nothing whatsoever to do with it.
"Ask and you shall receive," a Very Wise Man once said.
In the case of learning the name of your Guardian Angel, apparently
all you have to do is ask.