Jul 14, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (175)

 

“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.

07/14/24                                                       The daylilies are at their peak and the Orienpets garden lilies have started to bloom so the garden is awash in bloom. Many oranges and yellows and reds and purples and — quite colorful. Many of my Asiatic lilies have died out and I will buy some to plant in the fall.

My patio has had two pours with one more to go, but it was ready for the bonsai club picnic on Friday. After the third pour it must dry thoroughly for three weeks and then be smoothed and finished. It is colored a bluestone shade and is marked like large slabs of bluestone and looks really nice.

 The weather was great, and we had a wonderful time, chatting about the many things we enjoy together. It was a glorious afternoon and all the food and stuff were brought by others, and I supplied the setting, beautiful and colorful. I did buy a new grill as my old one was rusted out and had been repaired too many times, but we did not need it as all food was precooked. I suspect we will use the grill when the family gathers in a few days.

It has been quite warm, but the AC system is working well and keeping the house at a comfortable temperature. I still find myself feeling well in the mornings but run out of energy in the afternoon. It was in the mid-80s every afternoon and we often had showers in the evening, but the grass is not growing, and it has been three weeks since the last mow.

I hope to be able to start walking more, perhaps in early evening after it cools down a bit.

I took my own advice and went for a walk back to the pond all the way to the end. We have been getting more rain than I thought, as the pond is at the highest I have seen for many years at mid-July and the stream flowing out the end is surprisingly strong, as it usually is drying out by this time. I am amazed at the size of the trees, and one very large one is down and is quite impressive.

Dan and Alesandra and the three little girls are coming next Saturday. I still must buy one more car seat for the girls and both my son Tim and I will drive up to pick them up at the Syracuse airport in the afternoon – I will bring home all the people and Tim will haul luggage. They will be here for about three weeks, and I am looking forward to that. All the immediate family are coming during that time so the house will be jammed, noisy, and fun.

Good times!

While we could use more rain as it is been quite warm, but we seem to be having sufficient rain, so the flowers seem to more plentiful and larger than I have seen for several years.

I am not sure how much time will have to write these after the family arrives, but I will at least try to keep all abreast with all the happenings.

Meditation

Gentle One, I seem to be leaning more and more on You as my life moves on. You continue to fill my vista with beauty and love, and truly I can not ask for more. It seems impossible that I have been able to enjoy life here for over 90 years and I am in awe at the bountiful gifts You have showered upon me. I am grateful for all, especially for the partner of 60 of those years, Eileen. My heart is as full as it can be at this stage of life.