Mar 10, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (157)

 

“Love flows from God to humans without effort:

As a bird glides through the air without moving its wings-

Thus, they go wherever they wish united in body and soul,

Yet separate in form.”

–Mechtild of Magdeburg

 

My wife Eileen died from esophageal cancer in February 2020 one year after being diagnosed, 60 years after we met on Long Island. Then my brother Tom became ill (not COVID), and I spent a total of six weeks being with him in Ohio, but he died in October 2020. My sister-in-law Sue Mahoney died from Covid-19 in January 2021. On top of it all stood the pandemic, locking everyone down almost two years. Covid has proved to be a persistent problem, and many of the long-term effects are quite serious, and it has proven much more serious than flu.

03/10/2024                             It is hard to believe that I have been here in Lima for almost a month and will be returning home late in the coming week. All the company have left except for myself, and I find it delightful to watch and listen to the little ones and all their amusements and battles. The baby, Madison, is changing rapidly, learning to crawl rapidly around, pull herself up to standing at any opportunity, and yesterday learned how to push one of the walkers around all over the place. She travels everywhere. She has learned how to pull herself up the steps of a small slide they have. She has difficulty in turning herself around, as she likes to slide down on her stomach, just to go around and do it again. Fun to watch. She is still the most self-sustaining child I have ever seen, watching everything, and trying things out, if possible, on her own. She loves riding the rocking horse, riding a toy car, that is here and any other means of transportation she spies, all around the house. She has learned to give the “Queen’s wave”, usually with a smile. It is delightful to receive the wave while she is sitting watching.

Maria is the guardian of Mackenzie, and it is breathtaking to watch. Even when Mackenzie does something wrong. I watched Mackenzie (she is over two, and it is easy to see the Terrible Twos in action at times) hit Maria and Dan went to grab her she ran away down the hall to her room, and Maria ran to the hallway and blocked Dan from going after her. Delightful.

The weather here has been beautiful, as always, around 80 during the day and maybe below 70 during the night. There is usually a breeze to keep things comfortable as we are on the ocean, and it is always a beautiful sight to see the waves rolling in with often the surfers riding the waves.

I went to a museum with Barb, Janet, and Dan’s friend that was here to see the amazing remnants of the societies that lived here for the past several thousand years. The many (thousands) beautiful remnants, many made from gold and silver were breathtaking to look at. We ate one evening at restaurant adjoining a large ruin built of bricks without mortar where several thousand lived until the Spanish came.

I have been fortunate that I have not had any problems even though we have eaten out at least once a day since so many were here. I am careful to drink filtered or bottled water only and I trust I will return safely later this week. I will miss the family, but I suspect I will be happy with the quiet at home.

Meditation

Gentle One, You have given me a wonderful gift in the visiting this beautiful family. The joy and love I have received will sustain me during the months until I join in other family gatherings, and I am so grateful. I know Eileen is with me and is smiling at the antics of the delightful wee ones. I will smile at the remembrance of all the laughter.