One Deep Breath - The Unseen

Whispered words flow
softly through my heart proving
that she is still here.

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Kind thoughts and prayers

strengthen, uplift and shelter;

warmly surround me.

The Longest Day

It has been a long, long day. Mom's funeral was this morning and I was so happy to see so many people come to remember her. It was a modest turnout of about 50 people but considering mom's isolation due to her stroke these past several years, it was a gratifying turnout and reunited us with some friends we had lost track of who, though much younger than mom, were nevertheless quite close to her.

I actually dressed up. I didn't quite recognize myself. I even wore heels. One inchers, for sure but since I'm flats girl, that one inch was impressive. Ten hours later, my feet are still feeling it.

I'll be getting back to my blog soon. I have quite a lot to write about. I am so grateful for all of your notes and messages; your expressions of sympathy and condolences. If I ever needed proof of the power of good thoughts and well-wishes, this was certainly the proof. Your warm thoughts, words and prayers have truly been strengthening.

Life after Life

When my father died 5 1/2 years ago, the passage for this world to the next seemed relatively simple. Dad was sick. Hospice cared for dad. Dad died. The time leading up to the funeral followed a step by step path. But now, with mom, it feels so different.

Mom had a stroke. Mom recovered and then declined over a 2 1/2 year period. Her loss came in bits and pieces and as she adjusted to the limitations of her life and as we developed a language that brought a degree of communication, I somehow came to believe that with care, good food, and a safe environment, she might actually live a very long life. But more and more, mom voiced her desire to be with dad; her readiness to leave this life. Then on July 10th mom tripped.

Even now, three months after that fateful fall, I find it hard to understand how a trip and an injured foot could lead me to this moment, sitting here writing and reflecting on the business of life after life. That trip taught me that with age, life truly becomes vulnerable to the smallest things.

There is much that has been reflected upon and much that still needs thinking about but the most interesting detail of life after life was discovering that mom's life suddenly became bookended by two songs.

Good-bye, mom, but just for a while

Fay Monica Bottiglieri Bastian

July 21, 1920 - October 22, 2006

Haiku - Life seasons

Peace Haiku

Peace lives in her eyes.

A warm hand, a blessing full.

The circle closes

Little surprises

Corey, over at Tongue in Cheek, asked us today, what makes our hearts skip a beat. Well, I love to find little surprises tucked away in pockets and pouches much like the items above that I found this morning. The little art doll pins were a gift. The little clay goddesses were a treat of my own that I made for a few friends when we all met for a day of art in November 05. I brought them home tucked away in a pretty fabric camera case and they emerged this morning eliciting instant great memories and just in time for Corey's "what makes your heart skip" question.