It seems only yesterday...or maybe just last week, that I was holding our daughter, Abby and our nephew, Andy in my lap reading the Seuss book, “Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb”. I would finish the book, and they would say, “Read it again.” I would read it again. And when I finished, again, they would say, “Read it again.” They loved that story and I loved that moment. I think before I tucked them in that night, we had done five or six or ten renditions of that beloved tale. I remember that sweet time...the way the last of the day’s sunlight came through the window, the footed Winnie the Pooh pajamas...red ones and blue ones...the smell of sweet toddler skin...the weight of their heads against each of my arms. Yesterday, our daughter Abby became engaged to John, a wonderful man who makes her very happy. This morning, an email came from Andy that said, “Great news! However...John knows he has to switch allegiance from the Packers to the Vikings before marrying Abby, right? ;) “ A tongue in cheek reminder of the family connectedness and the ties that bind those cousins in funny ways. Then in the mail today...came a “Save the Date” from Andy and his fiance, Jill. On the card that announced their forthcoming late summer wedding, was a picture of this handsome young man holding the woman he loves. As I was reflecting on the joys of these two grown-up long ago little people who had loved “Hand, Hand Fingers Thumb”...as I was also painting the living room tonight and listening to music; Mary Chapin Carpenter’s version of the song, “Grow Old Along With Me” began to play...and I heard those words, “grow old along with me the best is yet to be” in a way that was fresh and new...and in a way that brought bittersweet tears to bear upon the moment. Hands dotted in Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom paint, the flowered blue and white twin sized sheets from our daughter’s younger years draped over the couch, the bigness of life’s relationships honed in on my thoughts and filled me with overwhelming gratitude for all the people and long time relationships that fill my life...and those of the people I love. The relationships we make...the love that we experience in our families...our parents, our children, our siblings, our in-laws, our nieces and nephews...in addition to long time marriages to pretty spectacular spouses, and a lifetime of great friends dotted across the country’s landscape...are the most beautiful experiences we could ever imagine. All those memories...and experiences...all those people...in all those past places...become the foundation for a future brimming with hope and possibility every day that we are alive. And so...it is with the connectedness of great memories of a lifetime spent living and loving and loving and living...that I say... Congratulations...John and Abby--may the joy and love you share...continue to grow always... Congratulations Andy and Jill...can’t wait to celebrate with you... Congratulations Max and Erin... looking forward to celebrating with you, too. And to our daughter, Kelsey and her sweet husband Michael...congratulations to you, too! The joy you share...the love you are experiencing is beautiful in ways that move me. The ways you have interwoven your lives, the story you told me today about the time you recently spent with Michaels grandma, Doris,...the joy you bring to her world...thank you for being such caring, compassionate people. We look forward to the day we can gather everyone for a Canadian celebration of your marriage...and lives, too! And...to all the friends and family that continue to shape the days of my life in the ordinary and extraordinary ways you do it...THANK YOU! I am very lucky!
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 05:02:27 +0000
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