July!?
{As there is clearly more to do than to say, I will be in this space with a series of posts I'll call Summer Days. Grab a lawn chair, some lemonade, and feel free to kick off your flip flops...}
My mother's garden seems to be growing faster and taller than it ever has, and she is not here to see it. We lost her, after a long home hospice care, in mid May. Of course, life since has been filled with deep sadness. It is a loss I'm not yet sure how to even speak or write about. It is a sadness that is new and foreign to me, even though I lost my father six years ago and have been down a similar road. It is clearly still the beginning of a long healing time, and I'm thankful that at least the day to day is starting to feel a bit less surreal. Even though I watched her go for longer than she's been gone, I sometimes pause in my day to wonder why she has not called, or I feel the urge to call and tell her about something.
We're home from our travels for now, and while my sons and I continue to grieve this enormous loss, I am keeping the daily groove as rhythmic and simple as I can. Yes, "simple" stays on the agenda, no matter how complex the days sometimes press to become. Focusing on what matters the most to us keeps positivity in the air. Quiet moments in nature, laughing with friends, sharing delicious meals, experiencing special places, crafting, and writing have so far been solace to all three of us.
Oh...summer. Before you even think of breezing on by, know that your every simple pleasure is exactly what we need. Stay awhile, and thank you for showing up at the right time.
