December 25th, 2016 in The Richness of Each Day, December 2016

The day was perfect. How rich each part of it was, the day spent alone and getting ready for the guests. The several visits from a big hawk out in the garden. A Christmas Hawk. Then the guests in the late afternoon, dear ones all. The greatsies jumping up and down when they recognized me behind the doors of the strange new house, the chatter about Santa’s gifts, the three month old baby so adorable, sleeping through the evening. My dear friends, Ron and Terri. The honeymoon couple. The triple rainbow outside when Ron and Terri arrived. Then later the attentiveness of the grandchildren and my daughter, cleaning up the kitchen before they left, and picking up the children’s toys, putting the doll house away. And now at about ten thirty at night, sitting with a square of chocolate cake and coffee, I am thinking about the small things lit by love that make me happy. How small they are. How important.

Perhaps I am learning that there is a balance to be sought that includes both sadness and happiness. The seesaw of life long lived, I suppose.

I was sad today, my love’s birthday. I was happy today, more than I was sad.

It’s always going to be love that keeps me going, that life balance of a softened grief and a deeply appreciated happiness despite grief – plus family and the natural world. I can more than survive on that grid. I must have it.

Last updated December 30, 2016