Continuing November

Fall continues to be a beautiful time of year in New England. The weather has been wonderful and rather warm this year, in the 60s. I love the fall. This year we are continuing our journey with Mom as we care for her during this favorite season of ours. I look out the window at the blue sky and the colored leaves on the trees and I know how much my Mother loves the fall as well. I tell her about each day and how pretty it is. Lots to think about with Mom's illness. The challenges we face each day, how difficult it is to see someone you love just fade away, yet be mindful of the fact that she is still very much here and sharp as ever. My Dad passed away the day before Thanksgiving a few years back and it was hard to deal with the holiday that year, but we did. I think though, when you loose someone you love, it makes you realize how fragile life is, yet for me, makes me hold on to those special times we love even more. Because most of us do not really pay that much attention. We go through life sort of in a robotic way, not really noticing the little things in life that are so important. Telling the people we care about how much we love them daily, not just when something happens. So while loss is sad and tragic, it is part of life and it does make you sit up and look around and greet each day as a new opportunity, a new gift to unwrap. All the trite sayings are true. Live each day to the fullest and be thankful for what you have. I told my Mom that people who are parents never really die. I like that thought and so did she. Part of them continues to live on in their children and their grandchildren... quite literally in the genetics that we pass on. The lessons that parents teach us on both how to live and how to die are also with us forever. We then pass them on to our children and then they pass them on to their children. I find comfort in that. Somehow you continue through those you love forever generation after generation. I am so grateful for this special time with my Mother. Our tender moments, special talks, sweet words and rememberings of my wonderful childhood that she and Dad created for my brother and I...... my family and how lucky I am to have the kind of parents who always put me first no matter what. Who supported me and loved me and were always there for me. There was never an event I was involved in that my parents didn't attend. Even as an adult. They flew to New York City one year to attend the Surtex Design Show at the Jacob Javits Center where I was exhibiting my artwork at so they could see me at my show. While I enjoy the Fall season with the beautiful trees and fall colors, I am making a point to look around and notice it all especially this year, since I know that soon all the leaves will fall and winter will be upon us. Another season, another time that has come and gone.

Comments

[Karen Iversen]

Fall is a lovely time :) with all the beautiful colors every where