Remember the first Thanksgiving after Mom died and you and
Ashley came to the tiny beach house Chris and I rented and we cooked a
Thanksgiving meal for four? And you put a Cornish hen inside the turkey when I
wasn’t looking and when you pulled the cooked turkey out of the oven and
started pulling that stuffing out and said “Hey, what’s this?” just as I was
standing beside you stirring the sweet tea. You pulled that little Cornish hen
out of there on that black plastic spoon and said, “ It's a baby turkey.”
I said “What? Woah, we got two for one, we got two for one!” I was so excited at
the oddity! You were grinning great big and then you started laughing and then Ashley opened up the fridge and said “the turkey is what,
Kelly?” as she pulled out an egg. “Preg-nant.” I realized then how stupid I’d
been (blame it on lack of sleep) and Chris was recording the whole thing on his
camera and I’d been fooled. I was so embarrassed. The four of us laughed so
hard our eyes watered and bellies ached. You got me good, Dad. Thanks for
making us laugh, even when I know you were aching for Mom so much. I
know you’re pulling the same stunts up in Heaven. Love you.
Getting the emotions and thoughts inside of me out - a blog about noticing the beauty and wonder of life in the details of nature and home and overcoming grief by finding balance in remembering loved ones without letting losing them define me.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Remembering Dad
Remember the first Thanksgiving after Mom died and you and
Ashley came to the tiny beach house Chris and I rented and we cooked a
Thanksgiving meal for four? And you put a Cornish hen inside the turkey when I
wasn’t looking and when you pulled the cooked turkey out of the oven and
started pulling that stuffing out and said “Hey, what’s this?” just as I was
standing beside you stirring the sweet tea. You pulled that little Cornish hen
out of there on that black plastic spoon and said, “ It's a baby turkey.”
I said “What? Woah, we got two for one, we got two for one!” I was so excited at
the oddity! You were grinning great big and then you started laughing and then Ashley opened up the fridge and said “the turkey is what,
Kelly?” as she pulled out an egg. “Preg-nant.” I realized then how stupid I’d
been (blame it on lack of sleep) and Chris was recording the whole thing on his
camera and I’d been fooled. I was so embarrassed. The four of us laughed so
hard our eyes watered and bellies ached. You got me good, Dad. Thanks for
making us laugh, even when I know you were aching for Mom so much. I
know you’re pulling the same stunts up in Heaven. Love you.
Friday, January 24, 2014
H20
It's been a little more than two weeks that we've been without water. A cold snap blew through and a block of ice cracked our well pump. Trying to locate the part was difficult. The manufacturer won't send to me, only to a distributor. I finally found a distributor, placed my order for what I thought I needed judging by the diagram pictured online. A week later my order arrived and it was the wrong part.
I ordered the right part from the distributor and expected it to arrive at my home in another week. Meanwhile, gallon water jugs accumulated across my dining room floor, some dirty dishes stacked up, and the laundry pile became a mini mountain of cotton and denim.
I called the distributor for a tracking number on a Monday because I thought the part should have been here the previous Friday. He assured me it would be here the very next day.
Next day (Tuesday), I sat at my computer half-focused on it, but mostly on the window hoping to see that familiar brown truck cruise down the driveway. By noon I called the distributor back. He never ordered it!
Today is Friday and my part is here! I greeted the UPS man with the excitement of a child who's been waiting for Santa Clause, and opened the package with just as much intensity. I smile as I think about how wonderful it will feel to stand in the shower and let that hot water stream across my face. (Although I have nearly gotten accustomed to cold sponge baths.)
I will delight in scrubbing my pots and pans and stacking them in the cabinet as they gleam in the kitchen light this evening. And to think, washing dishes is my most hated chore!
May I always not only notice the smallest things in life but pause to indulge in those moments as they happen every day. A steaming shower, a spigot that flows fresh drinking water with simply the turn of a knob. I know being without water for a couple of weeks is nothing more than a nuisance, and my aggravation with it is silly, but sometimes life's annoyances can remind us to bathe in its indulgences.
Bahamas February 2010
I ordered the right part from the distributor and expected it to arrive at my home in another week. Meanwhile, gallon water jugs accumulated across my dining room floor, some dirty dishes stacked up, and the laundry pile became a mini mountain of cotton and denim.
I called the distributor for a tracking number on a Monday because I thought the part should have been here the previous Friday. He assured me it would be here the very next day.
Next day (Tuesday), I sat at my computer half-focused on it, but mostly on the window hoping to see that familiar brown truck cruise down the driveway. By noon I called the distributor back. He never ordered it!
Today is Friday and my part is here! I greeted the UPS man with the excitement of a child who's been waiting for Santa Clause, and opened the package with just as much intensity. I smile as I think about how wonderful it will feel to stand in the shower and let that hot water stream across my face. (Although I have nearly gotten accustomed to cold sponge baths.)
I will delight in scrubbing my pots and pans and stacking them in the cabinet as they gleam in the kitchen light this evening. And to think, washing dishes is my most hated chore!
May I always not only notice the smallest things in life but pause to indulge in those moments as they happen every day. A steaming shower, a spigot that flows fresh drinking water with simply the turn of a knob. I know being without water for a couple of weeks is nothing more than a nuisance, and my aggravation with it is silly, but sometimes life's annoyances can remind us to bathe in its indulgences.
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A little more on the subject... I come from a family of beachcombers, with waterlogged ears and salt water in our veins. We take to the water for serenity, recreation, and memory-making. I want to share a few of my favorite memories on the water... |
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| Mermaid Cousins, 1988ish |
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| Still Mermaids, 1997ish |
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| Dad taking in Alaska's beauty 2011 |
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| My Duckys' first swim! |
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| I brought them in the house for a swim one night. They loved it! |
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| Dad was always happy when fishing. This was the last photo taken of him before he died in October 2012. |
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| Having some fun in Hurricane Irene behind our small beach house. Newly married and loving life! |
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| A day on High Rock Lake at Mom and Dad's house. Some of my college friends came to visit for a day. |
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| One of my most cherished photos. Mom and me at Topsail Beach in 2003. We enjoyed God's beauty through the waves, blue sky, and sand. |
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| My husband and me night fishin' on the Mount Pleasant Pier 2011 |
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| Pittmans gathered at Dad's house 11/11/11 |
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And........
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| Perhaps most special of all, my wedding to my best, best bud. We got married in Mom and Dad's backyard. What a venue!! |
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Taking Flight!
A blank page with an eager cursor... I've returned to my long-lost friend! It has been a long time since I've written and my mind and soul are ready to sing, my fingers ready to fly across the keyboard. This is my first blog entry ever - I'm nearly a decade behind as a writer! First order of business was coming up with a title. "Light on Wings" is a play on words with multiple meanings. First of all, I knew I wanted my blog's title to have something about light in it because light is so prevalent in my life, especially now. I've been a Christian for a long time, but I feel God's presence and seek his light in a new mature and understanding way than ever before. (Much more explaining on that to come). Gardening and growing flowers is my favorite past-time and nothing grows without the sunlight. in Charleston, SC we get a lot of sunlight, and have many beautiful settings in which to enjoy it! My husband and I recently transitioned our master bedroom to another room in our house and every morning the sunlight pierces through the one window in the room so strong and beautiful. I stare at it in awe every morning, and it makes me smile, as if God is presenting me with a gift of a new day as he gently wakes me. This sight is extra special because I have a bad taste for mornings. I mean I feel absolutely sick at the sound of an alarm clock, and much prefer to sleep in. For me to wake early and smile is a feat!
Now about the wings - Isaiah says those who hope in the Lord will rise on wings like eagles. This is one of my favorite bible verses. My mother died two and half years ago of breast cancer and as her immanent death grew closer, she told me that the verse brought her immense comfort. She didn't fear death and actually looked forward to the day she would meet her Creator on wings like eagles. As you can imagine, the verse means a lot to me. When I see an eagle or any bird soar above, I smile as I think of the amazing view Mom must have now.
Lastly, I have a thing for bees. They are such organized, determined producers of sticky sweetness that goes with almost any recipe, is an antibiotic and will not spoil. They are fascinating. My mother's name was Debra, which actually means "Bee." And did you know, it's nearly anatomically impossible for bumble bees to fly? Yet they are amazingly light on their wings!
So there's the title. I am excited to get back to writing, ready to share my take on life's givings and takings as I see it today, to savor the details in fun and devastating times, simple memories and extraordinary miracles. My hope is that these writings will be cathartic to me, and will bring enjoyment to someone else, if anybody reads them! May those who grace these pages realize something in a new light, and feel lighter... as if on wings.
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| My sunny view from bed each morning |
Now about the wings - Isaiah says those who hope in the Lord will rise on wings like eagles. This is one of my favorite bible verses. My mother died two and half years ago of breast cancer and as her immanent death grew closer, she told me that the verse brought her immense comfort. She didn't fear death and actually looked forward to the day she would meet her Creator on wings like eagles. As you can imagine, the verse means a lot to me. When I see an eagle or any bird soar above, I smile as I think of the amazing view Mom must have now.
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| Snagged from old.faithgateway.com |
So there's the title. I am excited to get back to writing, ready to share my take on life's givings and takings as I see it today, to savor the details in fun and devastating times, simple memories and extraordinary miracles. My hope is that these writings will be cathartic to me, and will bring enjoyment to someone else, if anybody reads them! May those who grace these pages realize something in a new light, and feel lighter... as if on wings.
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