I will always remember this day in spring as the last day that we were a whole family. We weren't preoccupied with our mortality; watching the kids play at the park, feeling the timid sun on our overly wintered skin.
We'd have many more days as the sun got hotter- days of being family to one another in increasingly intense ways. But, on this day, it seemed that life could go on forever.
The seasons have shifted again, and a thin layer of snow now coats the ground.
We have woken up now.
Our fragility is undeniable.
9 comments:
XXX
the picture of your parents....
it really speaks for itself, hey?
oxox
*tears*
God Bless you and your family in this time and place of change.
-Heather
Beautifully written Joyce. Beautiful, painful, and unfortunately so true.
Mom and Dad. I just love them. Laura
Amazing how life can change in a moment, isn't it? I was at 7-11 with my kids and my nephews getting a Slurpee - something we often do in the summer, it's so very routine and mundane - when my dad was killed. Just like that, my routine, ordinary Friday night turned upside down.
Esther-- yes, precisely.
the Heathers--
its just so fragmented-- this life we live.
I hate to admit it but I am always affected by seasonal changes. September is the START of NEW things instead of SPRING so it is little wonder that we are so screwed up.
Summer holidays were apparently invented to allow kids to work on the farm and NOT to entice young people to consider teaching as an awesome career because of the great holiday schedule.
My Dad died during the last week of my College term and set in motion a bizarre chain of events that affected every corner of my being. From that day forward I made so many personal decisions based on the premise that Life is short and unpredictable.
People that are important to you need to hear I LOVE YOU at every available opportunity.
When the snow starts flying you need to hold on to those warm thoughts and fond memories. Even if it is 40 below outside and pitch black at 5pm you can always escape to a warm cozy place with a quick phone call, email or daydream.
We do what we can to make the most of our brief precarious visit here...
despite the circumstances...
that is what makes us unique.
That was a great, simple post. REminds me of a line from my favorite poem:
"If you break, break going out, not in. I'll break my arms for you, hold your secrets forever."
I always think of my father this way. And it always makes me cry.
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