Apr 12, 2026

Living in Unconditional Love (263)

 

“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.

04/12/2026                             The trip home was unusual, as I ate something that strongly disagreed with me. I got messily sick in a Delta lounge during the 4-hour layover at JFK after that, but I have felt fine ever since and feel fine on Saturday eve as I write this. This was really strange as it hit me in a flash of a few seconds, and I had no time to call for help; but once it was over it was over, and I did not feel sick, and being in the lounge there was lots of help available. I had no problem on the rest of the wait at JFK and the short flight home was easy. Tim was waiting for me in Syracuse, and he brought me home. I was careful what I had for supper that night (chicken noodle soup) and I am fine as I ate my regular meals today.

It feels good to be home. Needless to say, I have had a pile of mail to go through, and I am sure I still have more at the post office. I will go Monday to see. The vast majority of mail goes directly into recycle without opening. Many nice magazines that will feed me mentally over the next few months are there as well.

The Newspaper fouled up my delivery notice and failed to stop delivery, so I had a LOT of newspapers stuffed in the large mailbox that is there. Since nobody checked to see (there was no mail) they just piled up. The mail service started on the day of my return, and they tried to stuff the mail in, and the box was full yesterday (or I should say crammed) when we checked coming home from the airport. Naturally, the newspaper seems to have stopped. I will call on Monday and tell them the mistake.

The daffodils are just starting to bloom, and a only a few of them are in bloom. The early miniature daffodils are in full bloom and some of the early yellow ones, but this coming week should see a full return. I know it is spring as the birds that nest on the front porch have returned and are busy refreshing the nest.

We had several celebrations of my birthday this past week. I left on the night of my birthday, so we celebrated mostly the day before, and we went out to a nice restaurant the day before my birthday where we could take our time and that day also before I left we went to a faster service restaurant.

The less said about the damage T has made of our country is better. We will suffer for generations because of his narcistic actions.

Meditation

Gentle One, if give my life to You to hold me gently during these times, but especially to hold those I love close and keep them safe. All is in Your hands, and I offer all to You as this sad world of ours suffers through the pains of sad moves.