Aug 04, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (178)

 

“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.

08/04/2024                                                    I am sneaking this in while Dan and family are off to the Spiedi-Fest in Binghamton. As one can imagine, this has been a hectic week for all. As various parts of the family left for their homes, Dan and family stayed on until leaving for Peru on Wednesday of this coming week. Trying to keep three little girls entertained is a full-time job as I remember well. Joyful, fun, but exhausting. Of course, Dan has his job responsibilities as well. So it was a busy week.

One story must be told. Last Monday was Drew’s son Huntley’s seventh birthday, so we met at a park and celebrated with swimming, playing, and cupcakes. Drew’s daughter Clara is three months older than Dan’s oldest Maria, both being four, and a really cute conversation occurred between them. It was caught on video as they were playing on some climbing things. As a background the only other time they were together was at Eileen’s interment in 2020, when they were both babes.

Maria: “Do you remember when we were little, we were best friends?”

Clara: “I remember.”

Maria: “do you remember how we use to splash in the mud puddles together?”

Clara: “I remember!”

How about that in building memories! Janet was just filming them playing and caught the conversation as it occurred. Great memories.

One of the joys I will keep in my memory bank is the wee one, Madison who is one, asking to be picked up and just held, often with a book to read. As before, she often brings me things (especially my cane), but lately she has just been wanting to be held, usually sitting on my lap, resting, then hopping down venturing off to the next thing.

It is a joy to watch the three of them play. They greet one another with a hug in the morning as they arise, and are usually playing amazingly well together. Oh yes, the occasional spat, but most of the time it is a joyful noise.

The garden has had its’ summer peak, but still holds wonders of bright colored blooms. I am so happy that the family was present for this glorious period.

Meditation

 

Gentle One, what joy I have been given these past few weeks. I am deeply grateful for the interplay of family and celebration of my 90 years on this planet. As they say, it is amazing to be the same age as old people. But I have been blessed beyond measure during this time, and all that has occurred, especially the joy that family brings.