Today is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday: the start of lent. Under an eon ago, people ate all their dairy foods and meats now. Fasting ancient people knew their victuals would spoil before Easter. The devout made a point of going to confession to repent for sinful behavior, so they could approach Easter with a clean slate. This still practiced tradition goes back a thousand years. During our soggy morning, purely by chance, some students walking to morning classes, wore or carried things in Lent/Easter colors: purple umbrella (humility during Lent), red jacket (the blood of Christ), and yellow jacket (Christ’s resurrection on Easter).