A Grandmother's Love

Perfect love sometimes does not come till the first grandchild.

Welsh Proverb

I am not sure if this is entirely true

She was a pretty great mom, too

Oh, don't get me wrong

She was known

to go the the park

in her little car

and stand up to her children

Telling them that they should not be there

And they listened

And they followed her home

In spite of the fact that they were in front of all of their friends

She respected them as they were

When I met this woman

it was long before her stroke

She was selfless

She did anything for anyone

She loved unconditionally

She did this until the end

I am grateful she was my mother-in law

There are not a lot of people who can say this

She is watching over us now

Guiding us

Giving her Seven Wonders

as much candy from her candy jars as they want

Enjoy this dance, Mom

You deserve it

"She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad.

And that’s important—you know "

— Marilyn Monroe

Such a wise woman

why did people not realize this?

There's one good thing about snow,

it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's

Clyde Moore

For those of you who know me

really know me

They know that I woke up this morning

with a smile on my face

Oh, I know that it is officially spring

and my toes really do want to wear flip flops

But it looked so beautiful

The ground was clean, fresh and white

The addition we put on our home has so many beautiful windows

Everything looked beautiful

I decided it was a perfect day to take photos of our "new space"

So amazing that I still pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming

My grandmother was home to me

She loved me unconditionally

She loved all of her grandchildren unconditionally

She made everyone who knew her feel that they were special

She has always been my mentor

I miss her everyday

photo by cheryl sparks

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient.

To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith.

Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches.

Patience and faith.

One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach

waiting for a gift from the sea.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A Gift From the Sea

This past month has been a challenge.

I have watched Kenny walk thousands of miles

in his inability to sleep.

Medicines have had reverse effects on his system.

I have had to be patient, and never lose hope.

The hospital staff has been amazing.

They have supported Kenny.

They have supported me.

They have listened.

I have listened.

I am waiting patiently

for my gift from the sea.

photo by cheryl sparks

2004

Vieques

When you love someone,

you do not love them all the time,

in exactly the same way,

from moment to moment.

It is an impossibility.

It is even a lie to pretend to.

And yet this is exactly what most of us demand.

We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships.

We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb.

We are afraid it will never return.

We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity;

when the only continuity possible,

in life as in love,

is in growth,

in fluidity - in freedom,

in the sense that the dancers are free,

barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern.

The only real security is not in owning or possessing,

not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even.

Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what was in nostalgia,

nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation,

but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now.

Relationships must be like islands,

one must accept them for what they are here and now,

within their limits -

islands,

surrounded and interrupted by the sea,

and continually visited and abandoned by the tides.

From "Gift From The Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

This was a reading at our wedding.

October 3, 1981

Each time I read this book

I remember.

I meant it then,

I mean it now.