Quote of the Day: “In a world filled with causes for worry and anxiety… we need the peace of God standing guard over our hearts and minds.” Jerry W. McCant
One of the things my sister, Lynne, did for her children to help them navigate life after she was gone was to leave them each books in journal form. She started them several years ago, my guess is when she was diagnosed with breast cancer the second time. She wrote in them, including ticket stubs and other memorabilia and added to them over the years. She told her friends that she had been making these books for her sons and daughters and so they were anxious to know if her kids had received them. Her kids knew about the books and where Lynne had kept them and they all had them. Her youngest daughter, Tess, had hers in her arms on Saturday and I asked her about the books. Tess had started writing thoughts about her Mom in the book as well and used some of those in her talk at the service. Tess asked me if I wanted to look through her book and I hesitated because I didn’t want to invade what was between Lynne and Tess and also I didn’t know if I was emotionally strong enough yet to read it, certainly not there in front of Tess. But really it has made me want to start books like that for my own children, and I do realize that this blog is a way for me to tell my children and grandchildren what I think about life, how this disease has made me want to write and write in hopes of gaining an understanding of what is happening to me. Seriously, it keeps me sane and if I can release these thoughts and keep them from clouding up my head with worry, well them I’m very grateful for the process.
Last Saturday evening, Lynne’s husband and children put on a wonderful celebration of Lynne’s life. It was held at the golf course, Shield Crest, where she had many happy memories playing with her family and friends. It was a beautiful September evening and tables were set under a large canopy and you could look to this great expanse of green. Together, they organized the program, slide-show, flowers, food, and pictures of Lynne. They catered all the meat, fruit and bread and then friends and family brought the rest. Oh my, there were a lot of people and with them a lot of food- so much variety and so many sweets. It was such a confirmation of how much she was loved. Matt, Lynne’s oldest son, conducted the service and Tom, Tess and Allysa spoke. A friend of Lynne’s read a poem she had written and then played a favorite song. Erin’s husband, Mark, who has an amazing voice and never seems to get the “jitters” sang a song called “I’ll be There”. It was wonderful. Matt said several times over the weekend, “I just want to make my Mom proud”. She would be so proud of her kids- they are all amazing, beautiful and did a wonderful tribute to their mother. Overwhelmingly, if you asked people what Lynne dedicated her life to they would answer, “Her children!”
At the end of the evening, we gathered 54 big, bright pink balloons with messages on them. People took the balloons and released them into the sky- a message that we cared, that we hurt, that Lynne will be missed and that somehow she was connecting with us. It grew quiet as they floated up into the atmosphere and out of site. And then, as we looked to the west, there was a beautiful sunset with unusual cloud formations, red and pink in confirmation that Lynne’s spirit was content.
Sunset at Lynne’s service
Lynne w/ high school friends in Jackson Hole, Summer 2010
(Notice the pink tinting and imagine Joni Mitchell playing in the background!)
Picture by Ray Brimhall Photography
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