Bittersweet Memories

Today would have been my parents 46th wedding anniversary! My heart was a bit heavy today because my dad passed away almost five months ago. Their relationship was affectionate so when she fussed at him or he pretended not to hear her we knew they loved each other. 

                             

                     This was the happy couple nine months before I came along.  

My dad loved cooking and we enjoyed listening to him sing all the current love songs, songs from his childhood all while preparing feasts that catered specifically to my mom. Many impromptu dance sessions occurred in our small kitchen with ten eyes watching the playful interactions. Their eyes saying many things I never fully understood until I got to experience love. 

His declining health brought many changes to their life and the roles became reversed. Mom now was the one who doted on him and it brings tears to my eyes when those grey eyes with blue flecks would light up when she walked into a room. 

When he passed away quite suddenly it was just him with mom, just like in the beginning. My parents taught my siblings and I many things about life and love but overcoming challenges with your love next to you is the best memory. My mom misses my dad more than she says and that's to be expected but more than anything she misses him telling her so himself. Happy Anniversary dad, we miss you too! 

Being Thankful

"Be thankful for what you have. Your life, no matter how bad you think it is, is someone else's fairy tale." Wale Ayeni

Recently I have been very reflective on this quote and in light of the multitude of events that have occurred over the last month, I have whole heartedly agreed. Life on the ground has gotten so constricting that I have been reaching upwards more then I normally do. 

Sunsets, sunrises, the way the light hits a changing leaf on a tree,driving through the park where the sunlight plays peekaboo with the tall trees, the butterfly that seems to alight on my shoulder when I step out my front door all bring a smile to my face and bring some tranquility to my day. 

                     

Talking to our children, one who is legally an adult and the other who wishes she was the adult, we share what we are grateful for. They are definitely thankful they have more options for play and schooling than we did and definitely not as much housework on Saturdays as we did but they are also mindful of how fortunate they are to have a parents who are supportive and can encourage them to be the great members of society. 

I am very grateful for the life that allows me to interact happily with people, supports my family, contribute to the economy, pushes me to grow - intellectually, creatively and spiritually, and for our parents who worked very hard to make sure we had a strong foundation. Can't forget to be thankful for being loved and for his heart, his love and his God loving being. 

I am thankful to God for every single one of my experiences because not only have I been shaped into the person that I am today but I have been fortunate to meet many inspirational people on my journey who challenge me to make a difference. Wish I could tell them all "Thank You" for keeping me humble and thankful. As I walk outside and glance at the sun going down, my mums glowing in the late afternoon shadow I smile because somewhere they know. 

Life, love, breath make me thankful. Oh, I almost forgot the beautiful beaches of my island home where I slip away daily in my dreams to rejuvenate my soul. The gentle waves caressing the shore and with the soothing breeze flirting with my lashes, I am thankful for another day.   You?