THURSDAY THOUGHTS - A Remarkable Occurence...

My apologies, once again - my life has become so busy, that I've let this blog slip away, and yet, Kathy Christensen - each week, has sent me a post for our Thursday Thoughts.  Sorry Kathy, that I've been behind.  I'll try to do better.  This article should have been posted last week...

I have always loved the Memorial Day weekend. Not only does it let us know that Winter is over and warmer weather is on the horizon, but my husband, Ron, and I enjoy visiting the graves of those who have blessed our lives in years past. This year while we were paying our respects, something truly remarkable happened.

For several reasons my Grandma Belle had been on my mind. Her birthday was May 23rd (she would have been 121 years old) and my niece graduated from high school on this day. I texted my siblings to remind them of the significance of this date. Also, Grandma Belle was exactly 60 years older than me. We were terribly close because she lived in the upstairs apartment of our old family home. Many were the times we shared long talks. We never ran out of subjects to discuss and sometimes we laughed until we cried. In most cases, we seemed to see life through the same eyes. I can still remember her telling me that her funeral plans were behind the organ in her apartment, along with the yellow artificial roses that she wanted placed on her grave. I always chuckled when she told me this.

I am now 60 years old and during this past year we have been blessed with two beautiful grandchildren. Tamsin and Tristan have added such joy to our lives that sometimes I feel I will simply burst! I remember thinking to myself that Grandma Belle was probably just as excited when I was born. I was the first child born to my parents who lived with her in the old family home on Main Street in Springville.

Ron and I always deliver flowers to the graves of our loved ones on the Saturday before Memorial Day. Most years our flowers are the first to be placed on Grandma's grave. This year when we arrived, however, there was a small bouquet of yellow artificial roses there. I was astonished because I didn't know how many people were aware of their significance. I really think I am one of the few, if the only one, who knew this story. I contacted each of my siblings and my father to see if they had placed them there, but they had not.

As we returned home, I simply could not get those roses out of my mind. As I thought of them I glowed inside with warmth, happiness and love. After a short nap, Ron and I went to buy some wrapping paper we needed. Still deep in thought about the roses, I told him " Ron, no one could have left those roses but Grandma Belle because I am sure no one knew of their significance but me." As I said these words, I got goose bumps from the soles of my feet to the top of my head despite the fact that it was 80 degrees outside. I know she was confirming the fact to me that my hunch was right and that she was happy I had been in her thoughts so much this past week.

Every time I think of this remarkable occurrence, I warm up inside. It makes me happy as well as encouraged to keep trying to build meaningful relationships with my own grandchildren. I also learned (or relearned) the fact that those we have loved and lost are much closer than we think.

-Kathy