of love and longing

I have been thinking about this rocking chair for almost half a year.  This very functional and well cared for old chair is my dad.  Not complicated, but beautiful, functional and elegant.  Well cared for by my mother, who refinished it's surface, created a cushion for it's seat and adorned it's back.

My mother has been loving and caring for my father for 52 years.  She has supported him emotionally and physically.  She has entertained and irritated him, fed his soul and body, laughed and cried with him, encouraged and argued with him and always been by his side.

I am proud of my mother.  There have been times when I know she would have been a different person if she hadn't chosen to spend her life with a husband and as a mother.  And I hope, in the final analysis, she is happy with her life and choices.  Because I sure appreciate her sacrifices and commitment.

She maintained a fine chair.

The hardest part

The easiest part of living far away in a cold dark place is the distance.  The hardest part of living far away in a cold dark place is also the distance.  I may not have to keep the cleanest house in case of familial drop-overs, but I also can't make familial drop-overs to the rest of my family.  This has recently been very painfully obvious as I deal with the sudden illness of my father.

Occasionally There is Grass

When there is sun - there is grass.  Well, actually, the grass is always there.  But half the time it is asleep under a thick, white and fluffy blanket. 

Living so far away from home is not always easy.  The distance often feels like that thick, white and fluffy blanket.  Sometimes it is uncomfortable and sometimes it is comforting.