Saturday, November 19, 2016

Good Grief

"They lived and laughed and loved and left."  James Joyce

My mother died just over 11 weeks ago. Some days it feels like 11 minutes ago, others it feels like 11 years ago.

Even though she's physically gone, my mom is still with me. She is very close. Nearby. I have never felt anyone's presence like I feel hers.

I can't see her or talk to her or hear her or touch her. But I feel her. I definitely feel her. She is with me.

And I draw great comfort in that.


'Death Is Nothing At All' by Henry Scott-Holland

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!


(Photo credit:  Rosemary Shumka)



Monday, November 7, 2016

Sweet Baby J

Josephine snuggled in on Grandma's chest.

Our beautiful granddaughter Josephine was born 11 days go.  

I have just returned from a whirlwind weekend visit with the new family in Toronto.

Josephine stole my heart before she was even born.  But now that I've held her tiny body and nuzzled her sweet smelling head, my heart is bursting with love for this little one.

Molly and Jordan are incredible parents.  They are sleep deprived yet still smiling.  They are smitten by this 7 pound bundle of pure joy.

This is the sight that greeted me when I arrived at the Toronto airport.  I immediately burst into tears.

Such doting parents.

Someone's happy.  Someone else is not so happy.

So sleepy.

The newly minted family.

Grandma and Baby 

Perfection.

On Saturday night we went out for dinner to celebrate Molly's 29th birthday.

 Three generations.

 Sweet dreams baby girl.

 Auntie Robin.

 Such a sweepy widdow baby.

 It's not every day that your parents' best friends serenade you complete with ukulele music!

 I couldn't stop taking photos of her!

I was so sad to leave her.  I cried all the way to the airport.

As you can guess, it was a very emotional good-bye.  I am still teary as I write this.  Thank goodness our family is flying to Toronto at the end of November for everyone to meet Baby J.  It will be wonderful to be together as the holiday season begins.

Josephine, welcome to the family.  Grandpa Joe, Auntie Paige, Uncle Will and I can't wait to spoil you rotten.

See you soon!