Home Sweet Home

Not much time to write this morning but I feel the need to take a quick reflection and jot down some thoughts before embarking on the day ahead. It is move in day. Mom will walk through the doors of what will probably be her last home on earth. She has crossed the threshold of many homes since leaving her childhood home. A little house in Lewisville, a new house built by her husband on Story Rd. , a green bungalow on Broadway, a rented home in Fredericton , another in Saint John, a renovated house on Bradley Lane and a another new house built by her husband,her son's cottage , a renovated small cottage and today's destination. I know it would serve me better if I was to not become sentimental and overly emotional. I am the daughter and I must take charge and support my Dad as this move is so huge and so difficult for him.As they approach their 70th wedding anniversary they will for the first time live under separate roofs, sleep in separate beds miles away from one another.As predicted this brings me to tears and I must for right now muster my strength and do the practical without allowing the personal to flood my brain. This new home does not take away the stories of the former homes, does not erase the woman of the house who took such pride and pleasure in each one. The woman who hosted hundreds and pre-scooped her ice cream still exists and today we find her a place of care and rest. May I step up and be what both my parents need me to be today.

After the Rain

We have gotten quite used to saying "we need rain" over the last few weeks of a very dry , sunny and hot summer. This morning I woke to the sun , cooler temperatures and puddles. Yesterday's rain was steady and gave the ground a good soaking. Sitting here this morning I think of all the petitions and prayers we make. I think of the energy we put into worrying and wanting things to be different, to be the way we want them, when we want them and how we are sometimes unable or unwilling to see the blessings we are given when they come. As people entered the market yesterday dripping wet I heard lots of grumbling indicating that the rain we so needed came at an inconvenient time or day.It is so human to want something so badly but be unhappy with the timing or the delivery of exactly what we wanted.We are struggling as a family to know the right course of action to accommodate Mom's declining health and Dad's exhaustion in caring for her. We want things to fall into place at just the right time. We flounder a bit wanting things to be the way they were. As Dad approaches his 70th wedding anniversary he feels the sorrow of what he has lost and the wife he has loved who ,because of her disease, is now so far from his grasp. He feels the pain of letting her go and giving her care over to someone else.We have prayed for this rain and now we must embrace it and be thankful for it.

The Gift of Another Day

This morning I reflect on the week that just passed. This week Fredericton became the scene of unimaginable horror. Two brave officers were gunned down and two citizens became victims of an angry and heartless gunman. The unimaginable became real and our vulnerability surfaced again. We rely on the police to come to our aid in so many circumstances. We also rely on human decency and compassion for it is the fragile line that keeps us safe from insanity and violence. Two brave officers stepped up to handle a situation and were slaughtered while doing so. It is the horror and danger of the job. The string of countless days of uneventful,challenging and rewarding shifts that end and see them safely home came violently to an end and has left two families mourning. Two victims lost their lives and leave behind loved ones. Ten children were robbed of a parent. Fredericton's peace and security was stolen and shaken to the core. So many people were affected and four people lost their lives and the gift of another day was taken from them with the bullets shot from a gun. Whatever the motive or mindset of the shooter his action violently took something from us all. We are all aware that life is fragile, that accidents and illness can take those we love and we all know how precious the gift of another day is. But when that gift is violently taken it leaves us in shock and disbelief and anger that one human being can cause such loss and misery. Let us pray for each other, carry each other and attempt to uphold the caring and compassion of a decent society.And may each one of us be truly thankful for the gift of another day.

And Now It's August

It is a quiet Friday morning. Paige had a sleepover at her great Aunt Louisa's and Em is still asleep. My head is somewhat swirling with thoughts and a bit foggy. The heat and humidity faces us again today and trips to the lake ,one very shortly and possibly alone, are in order. August is a month I embrace and these next few days I will prepare for the girl's departure while looking ahead to several social commitments and ultimately getting back to work at the end of the month. I am finding myself more frequently thinking of the book I plan to start when I return to my desk. I am looking ahead to my Italy trip in October and pondering the work I will approach there.My mother's future is on my mind.I need to take a deep breath and go from where I am right at this moment. No giving up, no giving in to doubts, fears and insecurities. Soldier on Burton always says. I see the possibilities but will take these last few days of summer with our girls as reason enough to just relax and enjoy.Our garden has not done well this year. Late planting and extremely dry weather was not a good mix . Except for my kitchen garden I have given up on it and whatever small harvest comes will be a bonus. In some ways this has been freeing. I am thankful our winter's food does not depend on the rows of vegetables we planted or it would be a very hard winter. I am so thankful for so much and it is from that mindset I look to this day and this month and all that stretches ahead. But first a dip in the lake.