Sep 25, 2022

  Living in Unconditional Love (81)

“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 to the day that we met on Long Island. Then my brother Tom became ill, 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, and even though it is abating, I wear my mask anytime I am out among people, unlike many.

09/25/2022                             This may be brief. I was expecting my son Dan and family (two little ones, one and two and Alesandra) to arrive late tomorrow for a two week stay as they were going to a wedding in Pittsburg on
Saturday. I am writing this late on Saturday. But he just called that they are about to leave and will be here (from Virginia) late tonight or tomorrow morning if they decide to stop for the night. So, I am scrambling to “kid proof” what I can see: lots of little things to put up and away, as I thought I had all day tomorrow, and only about half is tucked away. Looking forward to seeing them. It will be an interesting and fun two weeks.

The older of the two little ones became sick Thursday night, and they did not feel they could do all they wanted to do around Pittsburg, so they cancelled out on that part of the journey and will arrive early.

I watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth on Monday. Very moving for a truly dedicated woman who moved gracefully with the times for 70 years. The most moving part for me was at the end her bagpiper played a lament at the end of a corridor in the church across from the casket, then still playing, turned around and marched down the corridor and out of church and vanished outside, the pipes going slowly quieter as he walked and just drifted off. That brought tears at the end of many hours.

Yes, she had a personal bagpiper that played under her window every morning if she was there or not.

Fall is certainly here with a bang. High in the 60s, and while not having a frost at night, it is certainly cool. The gardens look great, and all is ready for fall. The bonsai are still outside as they can take temperatures down in the high twenties with no problem. My concern is having the pot freeze and break which can also kill the tree with the roots exposed. It will be another month or so before I bring them in to their storage room– I watch the weather report carefully at this time of the year.

My daughter Barbara retired Thursday, and now she must adjust her schedule. As she put it, “Watch out world, I am free”. Should be interesting how she moves with the new freedom.

Meditation

Gentle One, I watch the shifting of time in my life. Sometimes it can indeed be challenging and even heartbreaking.  It is indeed one day at a time. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming, then it calms down to something pleasant. Through it all Your love sings on, encouraging us and finding ways to fill my soul with love and happiness.