Thursday, 25 November 2010
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Currently
Thankful
By Natalie Cole
see relatedBlank Page Perspective
The empty road with the wide expanse of the landscape in my eyes. Yes, I'm thankful for that space. Traveling with a Hoop's (11) and a Miss A (9) makes me thankful for fresh eyes.
"Oooooo. Look! Hoops gestured out the window. "Look at those beautiful trees. Look at the vine fields. They're all red and golden and they go on forever." His face was glowing with discovery. The sound of his voice lifted me, and I chuckled to myself that he'd called the vineyards, vine fields. Innocence can renew the soul .
We were on the road to visit my mom and The King's folks for a few days. I haven't traveled much with Hoops and Miss A. We've built more community here at home as the economy tightened our belts. It's been a good thing in many ways. They've had long distance communication relationships with their grandparents, but we all know, it doesn't replace face to face connections. Hoops and Miss A are the last grandchildren in a family that has older grandchildren who are having children of their own. I'm the youngest in a older family. We are spread out all over. I suppose you can put our family relationship in a nut shell. Timing. The King and I have accepted the timing we chose. You all know that I'm a huge fan of "Right now."
So...on the road with two children who still light up with the world around them to go visit my mom who wants her light to go out, and don't forget The Kings folks who are both in their eighties. The kids know that their time with these folks is precious. I was thankful for that too. Now, I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but I had decided that I was going to be more in the background for the visit. They know me already. It was a good choice. Youth and age. There I was in the middle, quietly taking it all in. I got filled up, renewed and enlightened.
My mom (89) wanted to reassure the kids that if she never saw them again, she wanted them to know she love them. She shared her favorite prayer and laughed when she couldn't remember it all. The kids surprised me by sharing what they remembered of the same prayer. They finished it for her and she glowed. She asked them if she was talking about death too much and if it was too serious for them. They both told her that it was okay. It took no prompting from me. They spoke to her from their hearts. They just let her talk. When she'd trail off or stare out into space, they'd wait. At times they'd look to me for answers to the silence. I'd smile and shrug my shoulders. The experience touched me to the point of tears at times, but it was good water.
We left town two days later and headed 90 miles up the road to The King's folks. We hadn't seen them in five years, and although they speak on the phone often, you can imagine the reunion. I think we hugged for about 15 minutes. Surrendering hugs. The kind that fills you. Offers up a healing for the soul. For the next 24 hours, I watched the kids and the grandparents share themselves. Laughter, joy, dances, songs and a bit of family history. I observed how unbroken our circle of love has remained all these years. The love outweighed the passage of time.
All too soon we were back on the road heading home. I found a radio station that had holiday music and we sang familiar songs, or just listened as we each sat in our thoughts of our world wind grandparent tour. Six hours later, we were home and hugging Teen Dude and The King. Off to pizza and more sharing and laughter. It's good to be home. I am thankful for the quieter me that took this trip. Thankful for the long stretch of road that allowed my thoughts to mingle. Thankful for the blank page to write, release, and share with you. I wish you all a happy start to your holiday season. May you fill the spaces with your own good timing that starts with "right now". May introspection allow a peace within you to grow, and may opportunities to laugh fill your heart.
(pats heart and points to you)
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Comments (29)
Beautiful memories with which to begin a today and a future. Thank you for sharing. (wipes away the tears)
I'm so thankful you had such a lovely family trip!! Seeing surroundings in our children's eyes is so freshening and a reminder how we once looked at things. I'm thankful for xanga blogging which lets me hear these thoughts of yours that you might not have said if we were sitting in the living room being "proper" or passing each other at an event where no one speaks meaningful things. Hugs and happy thanksgiving to you all!
@guestbrief -Rhonda, I appreciate that Xanga takes down the veils, the barriers that could have inhibited our contact with each other. You hit the nail on the head with that comment. I am so thankful for this as it proves that as a species, we still create the real life barriers that once removed would change the world for the better. Xanga is a good example of this opportunity. I honestly believe we are meant to encounter people along the way. Maybe not an individual, but the situation if that makes sense. I'm so grateful that we can share this experience and be stepstones for others. Blessings to you and your family. May all your events be meaningful, my friend.
"I observed how unbroken our circle of love has remained all these years. The love outweighed the passage of time."
Beautiful thoughts, Lyne. What a wonderful blessing the kids and your mom shared. Many blessings to you and your family, and thank you for always sharing your heart and all the wonderful open spaces that you always take us to. ~Jo
@History_Nut - Hugs! This time will stick with me forever. I had several lights go on in my thoughts. Have a wonderful day.
@peacefulmeadow - Thank you Jo. I think it's all about being willing. The more I observe about my life, the more insight I have about issues that use to be important. I feel the pressure to understand fade away and the ability to accept fills the space. Hugs, my friend. Happy Thanksgiving.
I dig this Lyne. I really do.
And I am perhaps a touch envious.
This sounds like a great trip for you and your kids. You refreshed memories for me too. Those periods of silence can seem so long for a child and adult but during the quiet times you can still feel the love or togetherness. Standing back and allowing the communication to flow from the elder to the child was very wise. That makes them both, the old and the young, think and feel good about the visit.
Vine fields! Beautiful! I think I will call them that from now on.
@Bricker59 - Thanks Thom. Family is such a long thought. I tend to push through the layers with each renewal of the original family connections. It's a journey of it's own. For now, I'm in the middle of these connections because my children's timing took the reins. Off we go, eh? Hugs. (clicks cup of thankfulness)
@DistantShipSmoke - It was an eye opening trip for me. I'm grateful for every moment of it. Yep. I thought the same thing about vine fields.
What an uplifting post. Thank you so much for sharing : ) Happy THanksgiving to you and your crew!
@ofunlo - It's a pleasure to have this space to share my thoughts John. Helps me sort out my perspective and then the support that the expression came across to others is a fine part of my journey too. Both Hoops and Miss A impressed me on this trip. They showed their love and understanding in the most heartwarming way. I will confess that I nixed the use of electronics and asked that they stay away from TV in order to be present. I think It's a necessary step for this generation.
@anvilsandedelweiss - Thanks Blue.
What a wonderful post to read this evening. Thank you for this. BIG hugs all around, indeed. MUAH.
@Harpos_Mark - Hi Sandra. Sometimes I wonder just how wide open my mind's eyes will get in this lifetime. I'm willing to find out. Hugs right back.
@Jaynebug -
Beautıful... sounds trıte but beautıful ın an ımmense heartfıllıng way.. thank you
My first thoughts were 'what a good thing for the grandparents'. Then I went 'no, what a good thing for those kids'. Then I went 'what a good thing for Lyne'. As it turns out I think these visits were a win win for all of you. Whit took her kids (they're 4 and 1 now, can you believe it?) to a rest home to share an early Thanksgiving dinner with a lady who has no family. Can you imagine how those babies brightened up that place for a little while? You're the best. Peace
I'm so glad this trip went well. Your kids sound wise beyond their years . . . although that doesn't surprise me one bit.
I do hope, that if I get to reach the grand age of 89, I'll have some 'young souls' around – as understanding and attentive as Hoop and Moss A.
What beautiful memories you are making for your children. You are helping their development by exposing them to th elove only elderly grandparents can give. You are a good Mom:)
@bumblefish - Beautiful emotes a feeling as it wraps around our minds and creates a setting. Thank you.
@shellisland - It's All Good. The Grandfolk have all expressed their joy in how much love they felt from Miss A and Hoops. Who could ask for anything more? The kids also came away knowing these grands from new eyes of their own. Five years is a long time for a 9 and 11 year old. The must have felt their roots grow, eh? Speaking of roots..4 and 1? My my has time been clickin on by. I suppose us knowing that helps us stay in the "right now" more often. I think it streches the momnets in fabulous ways. Peace to you.
@jacksoncroons - Wise ones. I think their wisdom is tuning in now. New expereinces to test what they do, and how they step into situations will teach them volumes in the coming years. Hoops has always been a Buddha though and his grands got to experience it and feel the pride from family credits as this generation desires to hold. Miss A is quick witted and having two older brothers has offered her a path to hone this skill.
Experience and information will drive this generation. I ask myself what I want to share with them as we have this time together. The rest seems to fall into place from there. I think wisdom has a welcome mat at my door Jackson. Inner wisdom that is and I want it to stay and create more. (pats heart and points to you)