Super busy weekend, ahead, beginning yesterday, with Will's oral surgery (which had been postponed when I was down with the flu). Upon hearing that my sister and her family planned to fly in, David decided to fly home to cavort, poolside, with Ravi and his cousin's boys, the first being three, the second being nine months old.
In the midst of family fun time, a dear friend’s memorial service for her beloved husband was planned, and I’d offered to prepare a mega salad and dessert for her extended family and friends, who’d flown in.
Yesterday’s memorial service for my friend’s beloved husband offered a heartwarming tribute to a bright young man who’d fallen in love with a bright young woman, and together, they gave life to four children. In addition to co-creating their immediate family, which expanded to include eight grandchildren, my friend’s helpmate experienced a large slice of life regarding his professional commitment as chairman of the largest law firm in the world.
Over these past few years, I’ve enjoyed meeting my friend (neighbor and book group cohort) for coffee, and I’d listened, rapt, to stories of their life, which often proved international in nature. Hearing her reminisce about the castle that her family called home in Chicago really tickled my fancy.
During her husband’s declining years, I visited them often at which time I observed my friend watching helplessly as this power house of a man, who’d stood six foot four in his prime, endured the physical and spiritual indignities associated with Parkinson’s, heart disease and diabetes, causing me to wonder if at the end of years of endurance waves of emotional relief did not weave into her grief. So sad the way serious illness, leading ever so slowly toward demise, drains our spirits of joy ...
I believe that after any lengthy time of difficulty, hope for the resurrection of joy depends upon which memories are brought to mind, most often. And following my friend’s positively focused example, that’s the attitude I plan to embrace as Will and I continue to age.
I'll look forward to enjoying countless hours of spirited conversation with my dear friend once life offers her quiet moments in which to reflect over all of the memories and friendships that her loving heart has so warmly embraced, over the years, and much of this post has paraphrased a note that I’d sent to my friend, today. As for now, it’s time to ready myself to enjoy a day of play with family who flew in last night..
No comments:
Post a Comment