Monday Morning

I'm sitting in waiting room getting my car serviced, the girls are both at school and I'm waiting for my sister Karen to pick me up.  We're driving to Phoenix today for her grandmother's funeral.  She spent most of her life in the state of New York and only moved out here at Thanksgiving time.  She was an absolute gem to the girls and helped make our holidays wonderful.  Soon after arriving she was diagnosed with lung cancer and quickly became terminally ill.  She spent her last months going through her thigns and passing them out.  I have an incredible lamp I call "Morton" after the Morton salt guy that came from her which is absolutely perfect for New England.  He'll proudly salute you in my home office when you arrive.  In the midst of so much joy beginning such a juicey opportunity in Dalton it is something to bring everything to a halt to hold the sacred space of a life passing into the next.  It touches the sadness of letting go, saying good-bye, losing what's familiar.  I'm glad that I'll be able to hold that space today in the midst of it all. 

The party at the Goldschmid's yesterday was great.  The kids all swam from about 1:00 until we dragged them out sometime around 5.  Abbigail sang with Chuck as he played guitar.  She had many compliments.  Gabrielle ate 2 brownies and had her first root beer.  The sky was blue, the mountains were majestic, the hospitality was extensive and it was wonderful to have some space to playfully say good-bye.  However, the undertone was a bit sad.  In spite of the sun, the cloudless sky, the yummy food.  Gabrielle started yelling, "No, no, no!" and marched to the door and angrily sat down.  She didn't want to leave, she didn't want to say good-bye.  Some of the older folks I know I might not see again, cried, afraid, worried they won't have anyone to come when they are in crisis.  O Holy One, please surround these lovely friends with your healing light and help to ease their hurt.  Remind us all that you go with us and help us hold the laughter and love in our hearts. 

At one point Chuck pulled a drowned baby scorpion out of the swimming pool.  Then stories of tarantula's in the office, lizards in the bookshelf, gila monster's in the backyard and brown recluse in the bathroom...brought tears of laughter to our eyes and made our stomachs ache!  I'm looking forward to trading all of those things in, and walking barefoot in spongy grass.  Thank you God for all the emotions in the midst of changing days.  Gabrielle woke up this morning smiling.  Before she opened her eyes she said, "I had a happy dream!  I was eating Strawberry pie.  It was really good.  You were too, Abbigail, Auntie Karen and Uncle Jim.  We were all eating the pie and loving the pie.  Then two birds, a Mama and a baby said, 'clap your hands!' and we did.  It's how we paid."  Here's to a day that begins with smiling babies, strawberry pie and clapping.  Love and light!