Great Memories and Smiling Faces

I have not been able to stop reflecting on how great the day went when we honored Jim. I knew right away something had shifted, although I couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

But now I think I know. After Jim passed, I kept having these flashbacks of him in the hospital, and how miserable he was, and how he slowly was getting sicker and sicker. I didn’t want to think about those things, and I tried to replace it with other memories, but it never seemed like I could do enough. 

Once I spent time in a room with so many great people, and we read through the tributes sent to us by people who had known him for over 40 years, I finally got steeped back into who he really was, and all the things that he had done for other people. It made it really real. The family picnics. The way he helped people in large and small ways. And the dynamite grilled cheese sandwich he could make! His easy going personality, his patience with and love of children, and just the many dimensions our prism of life together took.

November 9th is a day I will never forget because of the great memories shared in front of a sea of smiling faces of some of the best people I know.

(The pictures below were taken by these attendees by request. I did not get pictures of everyone.)

With Susan and Natalie from Lehigh days

Stacy…friends since 1993

Katie, Honey, Wendy, me, Debbie, Angela from CLMS

700

 I happened to notice that today is the 700th post on this blog. I started this one in April 2017 as a way to get out and notice blue spaces and green spaces and to celebrate the poetry of David Whyte. This blog has grown way beyond this mission, but every once in a while I like to return to my purpose.

Today is chemo day for Jim, so I am not going to work. It is a bit cooler today, so I got myself out for a walk. I had brought my phone for an undetermined purpose, but very quickly I knew I wanted to celebrate the blue and green spaces in my 20-year-old neighborhood.

Facing east on Belleza Way

This pathway used to be one of the only consistently shady spots on my walk, but the trees crashed down in Ian and won’t be replaced.

I had the intention to take a photo of a new basketball hoop a student of mine who lives here had petitioned the board to put in. It’s in the pickleball court, and some guys were playing, so I couldn’t get a picture. However, it helped me remember the gazebo and the pier that are up by the clubhouse, a couple of things I actually had forgotten all about.

Next up, the poinciana tree that was always wildly majestic and bright, but since Ian has struggled to bloom again. It’s making a mighty effort, as evidenced here.

The weather started to feel warmer, and I continued along one of my favorite routes leading back to my home.

The roundabout dividing the 4 sections of Laguna Lakes

One of the 7 lakes

It’s Florida so we have to have these! 

After trading jokes with a jogger (since we saw each other twice she said she would tag me and I’d have to finish her run), I arrived back at my front door. You always know ours because of the quartz rocks we dug out of the mountains in North Carolina. 

My door is a blue space! 

I came in and read a David Whyte poem “The Fire in the Song.” It had the words “vibrant shapes” and I feel that is what I’ve documented here…the vibrant shapes of my community, my blue and green spaces, my Florida home.