Saturday, October 23, 2010
Halloween...and death..
Yesterday, Geemo stopped by. I tried to give him a skeleton-faced ghost to take to his house. I told him I just felt uncomfortable hanging it outside this year, given my neighbor, Mike's recent passing.
"Put it out!" G responded enthusiastically. "Hang it out! Mike would like it...Mike would like that!" he expounded.
Yeah, I think...he probably would.
My daughter's Godmother, Diane, was buried on Halloween...years ago now. 1978 ?? She was only 39. I remember how different Halloween seemed to me that year. As a practicing Catholic at that time, I also remember thinking how nice that within a couple days it would be All Souls Day, a day when all Catholics would pray for those faithful departed. [Mike, too, was Catholic.]
Long before Diane's diagnosis with cancer I had been reading Katherine Kubler-Ross' work on death & dying and had attended lectures by Raymond Moody. Through the years I have formed a belief that we decide when/how to come into the world and when/how we depart. But, given that belief, even, one can still feel pain, as it were...sorrow..shock...anger, even...with another's departure. (You didn't tell me you were going. You didn't say goodbye. Why didn't you choose another option? That wasn't your only choice, you know, etc.; which really is to say, "You didn't clear your departure with me first!")
I have a friend, a nurse, who likes to say, "It isn't about you!" Well, yes...and no. It is about the departing one, particularly, when one is trying to keep the departing soul as comfortable as possible through the process, that's a fact. But, I have no doubt, once crossed over, the one departing will be fine...joyously free. I don't believe in the heaven/hell concept. So, permit me, if you will: it is kinda about "me", whomever "me" is... still functioning in this time/space.
And, given that "letting go" seems to be one of my lessons in this life, it is about 'me.' For someone who cried over a cute, cute little mouse with beady black eyes and huge ears who was peaking out at me late nights, who would "say hello" before he scampered to raid the cupboards, and whom I got to know over a period of time because he was much too smart for the safe traps, and who, necessarily, had to "move on".. Ohhh...don't remind me! Yes, letting go is, undoubtedly, one of my big lessons to learn this go-'round.
Anyway, I didn't mean to get into a philosophical diatribe...only to say that death near Halloween gives pause to my expression and experience of the holiday.
Which, I guess, could be said about any holiday.
"Put it out!" G responded enthusiastically. "Hang it out! Mike would like it...Mike would like that!" he expounded.
Yeah, I think...he probably would.
My daughter's Godmother, Diane, was buried on Halloween...years ago now. 1978 ?? She was only 39. I remember how different Halloween seemed to me that year. As a practicing Catholic at that time, I also remember thinking how nice that within a couple days it would be All Souls Day, a day when all Catholics would pray for those faithful departed. [Mike, too, was Catholic.]
Long before Diane's diagnosis with cancer I had been reading Katherine Kubler-Ross' work on death & dying and had attended lectures by Raymond Moody. Through the years I have formed a belief that we decide when/how to come into the world and when/how we depart. But, given that belief, even, one can still feel pain, as it were...sorrow..shock...anger, even...with another's departure. (You didn't tell me you were going. You didn't say goodbye. Why didn't you choose another option? That wasn't your only choice, you know, etc.; which really is to say, "You didn't clear your departure with me first!")
I have a friend, a nurse, who likes to say, "It isn't about you!" Well, yes...and no. It is about the departing one, particularly, when one is trying to keep the departing soul as comfortable as possible through the process, that's a fact. But, I have no doubt, once crossed over, the one departing will be fine...joyously free. I don't believe in the heaven/hell concept. So, permit me, if you will: it is kinda about "me", whomever "me" is... still functioning in this time/space.
And, given that "letting go" seems to be one of my lessons in this life, it is about 'me.' For someone who cried over a cute, cute little mouse with beady black eyes and huge ears who was peaking out at me late nights, who would "say hello" before he scampered to raid the cupboards, and whom I got to know over a period of time because he was much too smart for the safe traps, and who, necessarily, had to "move on".. Ohhh...don't remind me! Yes, letting go is, undoubtedly, one of my big lessons to learn this go-'round.
Anyway, I didn't mean to get into a philosophical diatribe...only to say that death near Halloween gives pause to my expression and experience of the holiday.
Which, I guess, could be said about any holiday.
Oatmeal cookies
One of my sweet moments in life is to enjoy an oatmeal cookie with my coffee in the morning. The oatmeal cookie can't be soft...it must be what many people would consider 'over-baked.' I want them nicely browned so they snap when you bite into them..and, of course (!), they must have nuts! In anticipation of making some oatmeal cookies for myself, yesterday I set aside some dried cranberries soaking in Amaretto. Mmmmmm....
Today,tasting the 'plumpness' of the cranberries, I think, "Why make cookies??" Mmmmmmm....just keep dried cranberries soaking in Amaretto in the frig for snacking...what a concept! Let's see now: how many servings of fruits per day, hmmm?
Today,tasting the 'plumpness' of the cranberries, I think, "Why make cookies??" Mmmmmmm....just keep dried cranberries soaking in Amaretto in the frig for snacking...what a concept! Let's see now: how many servings of fruits per day, hmmm?
Unusual weather....
This is generally the time of year when our fire danger is so high; when we have had significant fires. Usually the hottest month of the year.
The past two weeks, esp. have been most unusual. Cool, even chilly; often with drizzle to heavy drizzle. And, this past week, rain, rain, blessed rain! I so love the rain! For myself, this is merely a reminder that no matter
what may be "normal"...or, what might seem "impossible"...is always possible! Rainfall in October...Joyous celebration...for the rainfall...and the reminder... and leaves me toying with the delicious idea of just what we are able to create/effect by our thoughts/feelings.
The past two weeks, esp. have been most unusual. Cool, even chilly; often with drizzle to heavy drizzle. And, this past week, rain, rain, blessed rain! I so love the rain! For myself, this is merely a reminder that no matter
what may be "normal"...or, what might seem "impossible"...is always possible! Rainfall in October...Joyous celebration...for the rainfall...and the reminder... and leaves me toying with the delicious idea of just what we are able to create/effect by our thoughts/feelings.
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