Flowers for the Living

I have debated whether or not to write this post.  God has the power to heal the Dear One who this post is about.  I don't want to embarrass this Dear One.  However, tonight, when 'the memories snuck out my eyes & down my cheeks' I knew that I wanted to write it.  The idea of 'flowers for the living' has won out.  I'm not going to include Dear One's name & I'm not going to insert any pictures.  If you know me well you may know who the Dear One is, and that is okay.  Perhaps she is dear to you too!

Ugly, scary Cancer knocked on her door last year.
Not fair.

But I want to tell you why I love her.  The Dear One.

And you know, ~I've said it before~, although I care about many people, my circle of people on the inside is rather small:  Family & few friends.  And Dear One is in it.  Family, really, although not actually family.  And because I'm less-than-great about keeping in regular contact I want Dear One to know that that's where she belongs.  In the small Family Circle.

So yes, I love Dear One.
She is a very good friend of my mother's.  She has simply always been in my life.  From my treasured pewter baby cup from her to a goat card that she gave me recently.  But Dear One is so much more, (obviously!), than the mere things she has provided for us.

Although it should be said that she has absolutely spoiled us.  Classic example?  Each year of my childhood & quite a few of my adulthood she has bought me a Christmas tree ornament.  Special & chosen just for me, centered around something meaningful to me.  How special is that?   Dear One used to stay in my room when she came to visit & she would usually leave me a little gift for 'letting' her use my room.  Once she left a little cloth jewelry box that matched, (by coincidence), a dress that my mom had made me.  Special.

She is Time Together.  No doubt we love her so much, in part, because we have spent so much time with her.  She did not & does not live in Maine, however she would visit us and several times she went on vacation with our family.  Boothbay Harbor.  Niagara Falls.  Florida.  Belfast.  Did I miss any?  Were you in P.E.I. with us, Dear One?  Mom has taken additional trips, sans children, with Dear One.  In Florida, I was 12 and it was a Big Vacation.  Cypress Gardens, Magic Kingdom, Sea World, Busch Gardens.  The whole Florida bit.  My brothers & my parents stayed with my grandparents & I stayed with Dear One.  I was 'in love' with Greg Louganis at the time & if Dear One noticed she was wise enough to not embarrass me by saying anything.

So you see, these warm family togetherness memories, she is all swirled up in them.  Part of them.  These are the exact things I value so highly as an adult and do with my children so you can imagine their importance in my life.  Family game nights at home.  Good food.  Small indulgences.  Vacations.  Swirled in.  

Even much-needed correction, applied when it was necessary.  By my teens I should have known better, but I didn't.  I hated mowing the lawn.  Dear One was visiting and I imagine I was on slightly better behavior because of that but as I mentioned she is family so I suppose I wasn't on good enough behavior.  And she called me on it.  Actually, without words.  She called me on my lack of willingness to help, to obey, to have a good attitude about it, and also the reminder that it was hard on my mom when I was choosing to be difficult.

I'm sure there have been many examples of we kids irritating her, but to be honest she never made me feel like I was irritating her.  She has participated in our joys & our sorrows.  From showing and telling things when I was little to much bigger, deeper things as an adult:  divorce.  changing churches.

Dear One has shown me how to have an opinion.  Agreeing is not always necessary, but it is 'okay' and necessary to have an opinion.
Dear One was the first to teach me about being environmentally conscious.
Gave me my first taste of shrimp.  And Jelly Bellies.  (She likes the pear ones.)
Dear One opened up doors of culture for our family.  An appreciation of art & music & nature & beauty.

And, oh the laughter!  I can always use more laughter in my life as I am so serious about most things.  I greatly appreciate it and need it!!!

Dear One has built into my children too!  Many time actually.
Dear One has given me the example of a Great Friendship, the one she has with my mom.

I can't leave out the Spiritual Significance.  However I have been so blessed to be nearly completely surrounded by Strong Faiths that it was/is not unusual to have someone close with a strong faith in Jesus, but it certainly is not unnoticed or unappreciated.  It was a given.  It has been constant.  Dear One has been a good example.  Dear One is a good example.

So- Dear One:  I love you.  Unashamedly and with Great Love.  I grieve this Ugly Cancer for you.  with you.  But Ugly Cancer cannot take away:
~Tiptoeing through the tulips
~The WIDE-MOUTH frog
~Rice Bowls
~Lobster rolls
~The ocean
~Having the hood slam into the windshield at highway-speed, scaring us 1/2 to death & smashing the windshield!
~Squeaky, sounds-like-farting, cushions on kitchen chairs
~Authors
~Fan collections
~CT rivers
~Finger trails on my back & a guessing game to guess the letter

and You.  Beyond the example you have been & the memories we have with you & the things you have provided & the light you've shone into our lives.  You.  We LOVE you.