A couple years ago, during the summer months I had a part-time job as wedding co-ordinator for the chapel at the university where I work. At one wedding in particular a young bride wanted to release butterflies from a box at the end of the ceremony. The vision of seeing such delicate winged creatures fly into the sky was quite lovely. However, the young woman found out that most of the butterflies would have been dead within such a confinement and the thought of dead butterflies at her wedding lost its appeal. This made me think of our own spirits. Like butterflies, our spirits should not... (Read More ...)
The last few weeks in my life – okay the last few months – no, let me get really, really truthful and state – the last 40+ years of my life have been ‘un- normal’. Is this a word? No, but I think I can get enough moms on board to make it a word!! If truth be told, there is nothing ‘normal’ about motherhood – but it isn’t ‘abnormal’ either – just perhaps ‘un-normal’! For me, it began when I was a young woman and pregnant for the first time. All the doomsday naysayers had to tell me everything I needed to know about pregnancy and birthing. You know the people... (Read More ...)
by Susan Handle Terbay With the anniversary of 9/11 come memories – not the kind that I treasure near my heart but those that haunt the depth of my soul. At the time, I had a daughter living in New York City and a son living at Ft. Bragg. For days I walked with my phone in my hand so I wouldn’t miss a phone call from either one of them. Two of my children were in harms way, and all I could do was pray for their safety and ask angels to watch over them. My daughter still lives in New York, and her memories are not mine, but I’m sure they also haunt her soul. My son is now a veteran... (Read More ...)
A few years back, there was a recall of an election for the Governor of California. I remember reading and watching the news about the recall going on in that state. Personally, I don’t understand the whys or wherefores of the whole procedure but it did, however, get me to thinking; what if, as mothers, we could be recalled by our children? This past weekend, my position of matriarch of my family was questioned, and I’m sure thoughts of recall filled my children’s minds. If it was brought to a vote as to whether they would recall me as their mother, it would probably be as follows:... (Read More ...)
In the shadows of the night, my mother’s life ended. The light of her presence in my life was extinguished forever and a hole remains in my heart that can never be filled. Her legacy lives on through her faith, hope and love for her family. I never had a chance to know her, the mother, the woman; but I have a chance to remember her and to share my memories with my daughters and granddaughters. (From my journal) Memories of my mother are resurfacing again as I face the disease that took her life. There is a sisterhood of women in which many of us wish we do not belong. It is the sisterhood... (Read More ...)
