“Farewell Arran in glorious weather, see you next time – Jill
Chris left today for Manchester to catch his plane tomorrow to fly back home to Philadelphia and his gorgeous wife Louisa. The girls are back in Galway catching up with their friends and we are all experiencing the afterglow of such a sunny sparkling visit as we prepare for the next phase in our lives.
Chris said it better than I could when he expressed the fact that they were all very grateful to have a place to go back to where they feel at home, despite any changes. Now the grandgirls are building their own memory banks with photos and anecdotes and talk of the next trip. Much as I love Arran I have the same feelings when I go to Stockholm – home but different.
My friend responded to yesterday’s blog by writing the following comment. She has hit the nail exactly on the head.
“I can feel with you, Lynn, saying good bye is never easy. But I try comforting myself by thinking that if they did not go away I would never have the joy of seeing them coming to visit me. Many people live parallel lives while living together – one can easily see: that is not happening in your family! Welcomes and good-byes show us so much more just how we love each other as a family.”
Today then has been a day of rest and contemplation and trying not to plan what my attitude is going to be to the next phase of my life. I know that my nearest and dearest are content and all is peacefu todayl in our geographically extended space. Arran is here for the next visit and I am lucky to be the one who lives here. My immediate future is going to be the dance between illness and health, adapting illness as part of my being, but understanding that healing is possible and available just for the asking.
My thoughts are turning inevitably to the garden and working out a comfortable corner where I can be outside with all the flowers I love, and some tentative efforts to grow vegetables on a smaller and much more manageable scale than I did when the garden supported our economy and fresh pea pods never reached the house, but served as snacks for hungry, busy children.
I’m also going to look at the “things” I’ve been hoarding, “just in case the children want them”. It was agreed that the only thing that we all wanted from the toy box was the Lego, the rattle of which I have mentioned previously.
I’ve decided that I’m not going to send “things” anymore, but rather be aware what would be helpful in their lives at the moment and what could provide new experiences.
I have to say I came close to changing my policy when I opened the silver filigree earrings that Chris and Louisa had chosen for me – so maybe occasional “things” and the second hand book my thoughtful daughter had found for me – more on that anon.
Tonight I feel a bit sad, but mostly energised and ready to face the next few steps in my physical recovery and enjoy each day as it comes.
As well defined by Pooh and Piglet in their discussion in the cartoon in my timeline today.
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For more on my art and textile work and to look up websites I like:
Scottish Island Mum – Day 40 – Come and Meet the Lovely Lynn
Fern’s Book – Diary of a Hamster by Ramsay Steward