Eyes Wide Open

 

Looking back in my journal and reading the below post I realize all the things that have changed in the 8 years since I have written it.  I’ve taken on roles I had yet to imagine, I buried another parent and I gained the love of so many beautiful people in my life.  Many things change yet love, honesty, truth and respect stay at the core.  I continue forward through good days and bad eyes wide open because there are always signs of the past and the future colliding into perfect harmony. 

From September 19,2012

I hadn't been to see him for a while. Even though I think about him almost every day I hadn't taken the time to really stop and have a conversation. But my day hadn’t been going so well and beautiful  fall days have always been both our favorite times of year so I took the short drive down the street, parked the car and sat and visited for a while. 

Ok I will admit a few tears fell during our visit but then as I was leaving I noticed a tree full of monarch butterflies. It was amazing! I'm sure they were there when I arrived but until our visit I was so focused on what was in my mind and I forgot to look at what was all around.

As I was getting back into the office I received a text from a friend in the hospital. It was jumbled and  hard to read but she wanted me to contact her husband. After a few frantic emails and texts I soon learned she had given birth to twins this morning. Several weeks early one much smaller than the other but both babies breathing on their own and girls and Momma doing well. And I thought what a beautiful fall day it turned out to be. 

With all the ups and downs of the day one image kept repeating in my mind. As I was leaving the cemetery from visiting my Dad's grave I observed an older gentleman. He was dressed as if he was an avid gardener and drove a bright yellow older model Volkswagen convertible with duct tape on the back window and if you could judge a book by its cover he looked like the type of guy who had lived a few adventures in his day.

 As I watched he took a 5 gallon bucket out of his car and dipped a galvanized watering can into it and began sprinkling water all over one small area of grass in the graveyard. It was so touching I had to take a second look into his private moment and say a small thank you to him and his beloved. So many reminders that love prevails even through a long hot summer’s drought. 

2020 has been like nothing we’ve ever experienced. But even when days aren’t going so well this was a reminder that babies are born, butterflies transform and grass grows greener with a little extra care.  

A great reminder to keep my eyes open and to fill my heart with love, to keep watering, nurturing and living in grace for tomorrow. 

Keep Living in Grace,

Michele