The conversation turned heavy discussing God’s existence, then noticing the time, my husband opened the door to retrieve our dinner, Grub Hub, don’t judge, a Friday convenience! Then a moth slipped in quietly, adroitly, wearing lime green and milky white. It landed on a nearby chair, and my husband spoke, “Is it you, Mom? It’s been 33 years, and we still miss you so much.” The moth lifted from the cloth rising up into the air, gliding out the door from which it came. It was Diane. We believe. Her entrance was timely, so perhaps, a reminder. We gave tears freedom. We know they’ll revisit because the many used up calendars over the years are irrelevant. His world was shattered too soon, but the events of that day are as vivid as yesterday’s sunset. Funny, how a little moth on its own special journey lifted our spirits that evening.
Stage IV lung cancer echoed in her mind – her kind doctor said last week with a heavy sigh. She smoked since her teens, enjoying each inhale, so this grave news wasn’t a surprise. But she was young, fifty-nine, with so much love to give. Yet, she was elated with the special news her son and daughter-in-law shared today. A grandma for the first time. How lovely. But with the chilly rainfall came her last breath, and the precious baby girl would arrive later when the leaves gently create a blanket of gold. There will be two lives to celebrate.
My latest collection of poetry – I prompt you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs, what matters most is to love and live ever so gently. Please click on the link to purchase your copy. Thank you to those who have bought a copy and who have shared wonderful reviews. My heart is full of gratitude.💙🩵💙
She protects with arms of strength and adoring love, embodies splendor of many colors, bold for confidence, pastel for giving support
She is the butterfly on the breeze, flying with style, the hummingbird outside our window she graces our presence a lovely blessing
She will swim upstream with vigor if need be a sister, daughter, friend, lover, a caring spirit like no other an angel on earth
(My mom passed away 12 years ago and my mother-in-law at a very young age, three decades ago. But these two amazing women live in our hearts, and not a day goes by without thinking of them.) 💗
My bridal shower in 1988. Mom in red stripes and my mom-in-law in red flowers.
And thank you to my amazing daughter and son for making me feel so blessed! ❤️🙏🏻
Dressed up in satin and lace, Iwalked slowly down the aisleofthe church sanctuary. Strolling arm in arm with my father, I loved hearing the swish from my dress with each graceful step. My eyes focused on my to-be-husband standing in front of the sanctuary. He looked quite dashing in his black tux. Wasn’t this special occasion just yesterday? Yesterday that transported into thirty-one years of marriage.
Well, it was just yesterday when I saw the item sitting on the shelf: a gift from my bridal shower in 1988. I recall opening the box and pulling out a white mini food chopper. A great gift, but did I expect to keep it for three decades? I thought for sure it would’ve been replaced with an updated version sometime between then and now. Yet, over the years, it has stood the test of time, still working, and the only change is its color; instead of a glossy white, it’s now faded into a pale yellow.
The question is: should I replace the little food chopper because it looks weathered? If so, shouldn’t anything old be swapped out for a newer version? Think about cars. They may have all the parts, their engines may roar when the key is turned, but if they’re scraped up and bruised, shouldn’t they be traded in for shiny new models? Let’s expand our thinking even further: Should spouses sprouting gray hair, wearing mazes of facial wrinkles be substituted with younger partners? Is the end-all goal a better-looking copy?
Let’s do the math: if that mini chopper has aged, so have I and I am not going to be traded in. Buying brand-new, shiny, and flawless is exciting and I won’t lie and say that I never have, but sometimes the memories deep within are more valuable than the “item” itself. Regarding life partners, what about the good memories: the laughter, tears, adventures, intimacy, and the love both partners felt in the beginning when that spark ignited? This is why my faded chopper still sits on the shelf, rather content with the cookie sheets and mixing bowls.
I don’t know how long the chopperwill stay in the family, but as longas it does, I’ll remember that Saturday afternoon: women gathered to celebrate my upcoming wedding day. Silly games brought fits of laughter, deep conversations evoked precious memories, words of wisdom were spoken by women who had lived through the cracks and crevices of life. Most importantly, my faded gift reminds me of when my mom and mother-in-law were still in my life. They were two amazing women with more stories to tell and wisdom to share and I miss them more than words convey.
Mom on my right and my mother-in-law on my left.
So, if you’re questioning whether you should toss that old worn-out item even though it functions perfectly, allow yourself to pause in the moment, to reflect upon the wonderful memories.
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 