I’ve gone my first twenty-four hours with no one but my kids and me in the house. I totally appreciated my mother coming down as soon as Mick got sick. Just a presence, a help in the kitchen, a person other than a teenaged boy to talk with. I am now enjoying the quiet. Even if it is too quiet.
After watching all kinds of taped stuff on TV, putting frozen pizzas in the oven and sitting down with Aidan to watch “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” (gotta love those Veggie Tales!) while we ate, then, when Aidan’s friend arrived, went back to the couch to start watching “Imitation of Life” while colouring in my new “Art Therapy Colouring Book” – hey, a girl feeling the need to be artistic but who cannot draw past stick-men has gotta do what she’s gotta do! I was so excited when I found these “adult” colouring books as, well, I love to colour!
Anyways… I got a little sick of myself so here I am. Iain just got back from gallivanting with his friends, had a bite to eat and disappeared downstairs to join the others. I can’t expect them to keep me entertained at all hours though Aidan is sweet enough to come upstairs and “check on me” to make sure I’m OK.
The real purpose of this post is to simply say
Thank You.
Thank you for your kind words, your love, your prayers, your good wishes, and thank you for your words of condolence and sympathy and wishes for strength. I truly do feel like the luckiest girl around for having all of you in my life in some form or another!
One of you so kindly wrote me a poem, which I truly wanted to share. Thank you Anarette!
It’s pure sadness.
Tears are raining down,
building up a storm,
crashing fortified dams,
surrounding innocent calmness.
Lakes turn into seas of isolation.
Familiarity becomes unrecognizable.
Feelings of drowning.
Countless hands reach out,
building a lifeline,
stronger than ever.
Mountains are moved,
drowning the flood of tears,
letting laughter return.
The laughter will indeed return (truthfully, it has already made more than one appearance) and my usual zany self will come back full force.
Love to you all!
xoxo
Hi Dale — happy to read about doing all the normal stuff in between holidays. The grind can be humdrum at times but is sweet to have a loving family.
The adult coloring books look cool. Didn’t know they had such a thing and can see where they would go a long way in helping the artist at heart kick back and relax.
Wishing you and yours a Happy and Safe 2015. 🙂
Now I understand, Dale, having just read your Heart to Heart story about Mick. I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t know how you’re able to be so strong and positive. God bless you and sending you loving energy to help along the way.
Thank you, Pat
❤ Truly welcome, my friend.
Thinking of you and the kids Dale..I’m glad you have the ‘sanity’ of coloring books (I’m a frustrated artist too – have you ever tried Zentangle? It might be a welcome respite right now) and hope that you give yourself the time and space that grief needs. We all can wait for your zaniness – right now people just want you to be wherever and whoever you need to be..
Thanks -no, never heard og Zentangle…will have to look it up.
Hugs for 2015, Dale. Know we’re here ~ all round the world ~ whenever you feel like chatting, crafting, crying, laughing, remembering, hoping or colouring! jx
Thanks, Jean! How lucky am I? Xoxo
Beautiful picture of Mick and you. I love coloring books. I read somewhere that we are all born creative. It is society that tells us to not to be and to behave in certain expected patterns. Be a child again and experiment! Hugs, A.
Oh I am! I have always enjoyed colouring! Now I have a great “excuse” I can call it art therapy to help me de-stress…though in realoty I need no excuses… 😉
Wishing you a colorful 2015 with lots of healing sun-rays.
Thank you! And may you and the crew have a most wonderful 2015 as well!
Thank you!
Wishing you a peaceful new year Dale, with lots of colouring in and creating xxx
Thank you, Andrea! xoxo To you and yours, I wish a most wonderful 2015!
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a grown up colouring book (or any colouring book for that matter!). I bought a similar one for my husband this year and if I thought I could get away with it I’d colour in it myself!
Lots of love for 2015. xxx
I agree!!! It’s a great way to just let go, let your mind float…
For you too, Cathryn, for you and yours! xoxo
Now that’s one heck of a spot-on poem … and at least you seeming willing to tackle the twists & turns, ups & downs, and peaks & valleys that lie ahead. Be strong, Dale … be strong.
Isn’t it? I’m doing my best and am well-surrounded. I am!
That a way! … and Happy New Year to you!
🙂 right back at ya!
Blessings of the New Year, my friend…
And to you.
You have entered my thoughts at least once every hour through this holiday. I hope that beautiful smile is still in you. Patsye
Thank you Patsye. I think it is – may not completely reach my eyes yet (according to the New Year’s Eve party pics…) but it will. xoxo
I will keep you and your family in your thoughts Dale – I am amazed at your strength in this difficult time. Hugs to you and the boys and Mike’s extended family. Please take are of yourself and continue writing; Mike will be and I’m sure he is proud of you.
Thanks Deborah. It’s Mick, by the way, not Mike! 😉 I will absolutely keep on writing. Too many stories inside just waiting to get out!
Dale, I read your post earlier about Mick’s heart attack and eventual death. I am moved by your opening yourself up to write of his last days and weeks. Your writing is so vulnerable I tip-toed out of the room without saying anything. I felt like a stranger since this is the first post I’ve read of yours and did not want to intrude. You commented on a post of mine today. I want to say thanks for being am amazing, real and generous person.I am looking forward to the stories that “want to get out” of you. ❤
CC (‘coz I don’t know your real name and just cannot call you crone!), I thank you so much for your comment. I love that notion of not wanting to intrude (which confirms to me that I did open up quite a bit!) though please do not feel like you are intruding. You are most welcome in. Thank you so much again. I actually look forward to sharing those stories! xo
People call me Vivachange, or Vi. To me a crone is a wise old woman, a positive creature – bur that’s another story.Thanks for your welcome. When you commented on my post i felt your openness and knew it was OK to speak what is on my heart..
I saw your “commenting name” and wondered if I should use Vi or Vivachange so that is what I shall do! I actually agree with you about the crone being a wise old woman (and remember reading something by someone somewhere about the positive image crone should give… 😉 Don’t know that you look old enough…but most definitely wise so…
Thanks. Ten or fifteen years ago I went to a workshop on crones given by Sue Monk Kidd. We even went through. a croning ceremony. As soon as I considered the name of my blog I knew it would include crone. Chronicler was a natural because of my love of telling stories.I have been amazed how many people where I live make faces when I tell them the name of my blog. My first gravatar was a truly terrible picture of me that I thought suitable for a crone. I exchanged it for a decent picture on myself.Then i came up with my current one which I cut from some gift wrap paper my middle son once gave me. i didn’t know the older incarnations of my Gravatar were still around. Anyway, I love being told I don’t look my age. I definitely don’t feel it. I’m 78.Do remember you are 50? That was the age I was when I decided I wanted to be an original of my own creating, instead of filling all the roles others saw me playing. 🙂
YOu know… I think I read about the whole crone thing through Sue Monk Kidd in the O magazine! I’ve gotta admit, the name is growing on me. Now I feel like I’ve got to dig around to find those old pics of you… 😉 Unless there are some to be found on your blog? I think it totally fabulous to be told we don’t look our age. 78, eh? Rock on, Lady! Yes, you are correct; for the next 4 months I am 50 and I am absolutely in the creation of my own me, so to speak… Been working on it for a couple of years now. Getting close to digging me! xo
Welcome sister to the Vintage Years. It looks like you’re already an original. About photos on my blog- I’m probably the only blog with no pictures or graphics of any kind. That’s how original I am.
Can’t complain about that! It is great to be an original!
And thanks…I love the idea of being an original. I shall wear it with pride!