At 12:30 pm EST today Terry’s father, Morris, passed away in the loving care of Hospice. We are grateful that his passing was peaceful and he is no longer suffering. Terry was able to spend this past week with his father when he was the most alert and is thankful for that time given him.
As many of you know, last year we spent six months at Terry’s folks’ home, helping to prepare them for the next phase in their lives. We find ourselves reminiscing on this time and, although fraught with some stressful moments due to the changes his elderly parents were trying to embrace, we will be forever grateful for our time there. We both felt we learned so much from the experience and discovered many things about his father that have become crystallized memories for us.
Morris was a quiet man, whose wants were few. He was content to live a simple life and enjoyed being outdoors in his yard and garden, in touch with nature. He was a kind, gentle soul with a wonderful sense of humor. Sitting outside on a bench, with sunlight dancing across his features, I could sit for hours and listen to him talk of his childhood.
Baking him chocolate-chip cookies became a weekly routine and if I veered from the established schedule, in his quiet way, with a twinkle in his eye, he would ask me “what’s the hold-up?”
Both Terry and I were able to share with his father our innermost feelings of how he had touched our lives, how much he was loved, and in turn he shared his feelings for us. What a blessed gift it is to share the gift of time and heartfelt thoughts with those we love.
Rest in peace beloved father, until we see you again.
I have never participated in a WordPress Daily Prompt before, but at this time of year, I am adrift on a sea of memories. This prompt spoke to me.
On a warm summer day, against a stunning backdrop of shimmering red rocks, I spotted you sitting alone, listening to the music wafting through space. It seemed my soul already knew you and raced to greet yours before my feet could carry me to your side. Everything around me seemed to slow as our eyes met and introductions were made. Deep within I knew ours was to be a lifelong friendship, even if you had yet to make this discovery. I seldom left your side that day and quickly learned that on the surface we seemed to have little in common, mine a life revolving around finance, yours that of talented musician and artist.
No one could have guessed the depths our friendship would reach, something so strong drawing me back time and again to your beautiful melancholy smile. With each visit, familiarity gained momentum. Vulnerability and timidity gave way to raw honesty as we explored our feelings, new discoveries about each other and ourselves unraveling. A piece of my soul that had been lost once again had found its rightful place.
Yours was a life of great struggle Barb, a battle difficult to witness at times. However, even during some of your darker days, which brought forth tears of anger and frustration, I always felt a calm countenance within you, ready to face whatever life had yet in store for you. Some of my most cherished memories will always be those rather prosaic tasks we shared that so many of us take for granted, exercises you coveted as your body began to turn against you. Greeting you in the morning and gently lifting you into your wheelchair, brushing your beautiful blond hair as you silently cried, seeking acceptance of the terrible affliction that had wracked your body, showering you as you struggled with the humiliation of feeling your dignity slip away, and sitting at your feet reading to you when you could no longer turn the pages on your own are intimate moments that have become encapsulated in my heart.
You left us much too soon Barb, long before any of us were ready. There were stories still to be told and lessons for you to teach us, other lives for you to touch. But you knew it was your time and with that same courage with which you faced your illness, you moved into the next life.
On this eve of your passing, I cannot believe three years have slipped by so swiftly. The pain of your absence can still take my breath away. But something so strong as your passion for life amidst your formidable trials has left me with the awareness that any obstacle can be overcome.
As I reflect upon our time together, a myriad of emotions swirl around, moments of profound joy, deep wells of sadness, contemplative stillness, and always the knowledge that we will meet again. Until that time arrives ~ rest in peace my anam cara.
Clearwater, a beautiful Florida coastal city, has much to offer and has a chemistry all its own but the chemistry I speak of in this post is that which we humans find with others.
Joyful children delight visitors at cultural center.
We have spent the past ten days in Clearwater being quite the social butterflies, so much more than normal that this little introvert is going to need some alone time to decompress (lol)! Don’t get me wrong, our time spent here catching up with old friends and meeting new ones has been fabulous! It seems that many of Terry’s former high-school friends have settled around the Clearwater area so there has been many a get-together, with good food and drink, thanks to the efforts of high-school chum Norm. Our waistlines have suffered a bit from all this fun but we have been rewarded with many pleasant memories. Good friends Doug and Donna migrated south for a vacation to escape the frigid temps of Ohio and their daughter Kelley joined them, getting a break from the Windy City winter. And we caught up with two couples we shared many laughs with at Amazon.
Terry’s high school buds & spouses – Dawn, Rick, Terry, Jim, Doug, Donna, Joyce & NormAmazon buddies – Jim, Sharon, Rich, me, and Pat
For those in the RVing community, there is always a level of excitement at the prospect of meeting someone whose blog you have followed for some time. We were very pleased to have met a couple who have been on my “must meet” list for a long time. As time passed I thought we were going to be two ships passing in the night and I was feeling a bit sad but the stars aligned properly and a brief window of opportunity presented itself. Emails were exchanged; plans made; and we found ourselves heading over to Cortez to have lunch with John and Pam Wright of Oh, The Places They Go. They were as delightful as I knew they would be and we walked away feeling like we were catching up with old friends instead of meeting for the first time. With the hopes of meeting up again near DC later this year and discussion of hiking out west together, the day ended on a perfect note.
Me, Pam, and JohnJohn & Terry on the beach at Anna Maria Island
I had a similar experience several days earlier with another blogger friend, someone I have followed for quite a while, a brilliant landscape photographer who took time out of his busy schedule (in Clearwater on assignment) to have coffee. What started as a quick cup of coffee ended 2.5 hours later, having covered quite a bit of territory outside the photography realm, as I promised myself I would not harass him for tips. Ok, since photography is his passion, he generously shared a few tidbits with me, for which I am most grateful. 🙂 For those who haven’t guessed by now, I met up with none other than the talented Rick Braveheart. If you have yet to see his work, I urge you to go here and check it out. I promise you will not be disappointed. As we were saying our goodbyes, I asked for a photo and a quick selfie was taken with Rick’s iPhone. I avoid close-ups of myself at all costs so sadly Rick’s arm just wasn’t long enough for me to proudly display a photo! You are just going to have to trust me that there was a chance meeting. 😉
All of this socializing has got me wondering about why we connect so strongly with some? Common ground is one reason that brings us together initially, which seems to be obvious in the RVing world. Those who have a wanderlust for travel, a love of nature, enjoy the same recreational activities; i.e. hiking, biking, kayaking, photography, seem to gravitate toward one another. But there is that certain something that transcends the similar interests after you meet, the comfortable silence in-between the conversation when you know you have met someone special.
As many of us do, I have a diverse group of bloggers I follow. Writers, artists, photographers, international travelers…the list goes on. What draws us together, satisfying that desire to learn more about the person behind the computer screen, half a world away? Since we will most likely never meet face-to-face, yet we are drawn to one another, I believe that the chemistry between others cannot be explained by science alone. It feels more like a spiritual connection to me, familial, déjà vu, a sense you have known that person before. Experiencing this kind of chemistry with others rejuvenates me and as I get to know them better, whether virtually or in person, I feel I discover another little piece of me. 🙂
Just a few of our fine feathered friends we saw while in Clearwater:
osprey
American oystercatcher
blue heron fishing
bald eagle
Herring gull
Great horned owl
black skimmer
egret
Elusive white pelicans who neither Pam nor I could coax closer to shore
We have headed down the road once again, continuing our quest to see this beautiful country we call home. We are snuggled into a comfortable site in the panhandle of Florida at Blackwater River State Park. Although this is known as the Sunshine State, it seems the sun will be quite elusive for the next several days. No worries, as we are toasty within our little home on wheels, and feel blessed to be able to live this RV lifestyle.
Soon the final chapter of 2013 will be written, a year for us that included both great joy and challenges. Although we may not have had a “typical” year, we experienced much that provided valuable introspection and memories to last a lifetime.
In 2014 I look forward to reconnecting with the blogging community. Too often this year I felt the need to step away from blogging to deal with more pressing life issues. I look forward once again to having my life enriched with your stunning photography, suggestions for books to provide me hours of reading pleasure, travel destinations to dream upon, inspiring words that nurture my soul, technology to enhance our lives and great food suggestions.
Although we will soon close out 2013, we pick up a brand-new book entitled 2014, a book never opened, filled only with blank pages. What will you imprint on these pages in the upcoming year? Whatever your plans, I hope you live your dream each and every day and share your passion with the world. The Buddha said “the secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate problems, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
My wish for everyone is for abundant good health, both mind and body. I am not one to make resolutions that I may ultimately break, but this upcoming year I plan to see more sunrises and sunsets, standing in the delicious silence of early morning and basking in the warmth of a glowing setting sun.
Happy New Year everyone! May you experience hope, great joy, and much lightness and love in the upcoming year.
We have survived our arduous commitment with Amazon and can now look forward to getting back to a “normal” schedule. In a couple of days we will head to Indiana to spend time with family during the holidays. We hope you all are surrounded by the love of family and friends during this very blessed season, and experience deep joy and inner peace.
I am most grateful to all of you who have followed along this year and supported us during some challenging times. Over the past several weeks of working long days I have missed your blogs, your eloquent writing, stunning photography, and beautiful artistry. I look forward to catching up on your lives and returning to writing after the first of the year, from a much warmer, sunnier location. 🙂
Paint Your Landscape 