Resilience and Courage

 

 

Today I was going to write about birch trees.  I've been watching how they hang onto their small gold leaves longer than other trees in autumn.  I was going to write about how birch leaves look like tiny hands waving; about how their leaves turn colour more slowly than others--but I'm not going to do that--not much anyway.

Today, I want to acknowledge resilience and courage.  Yesterday and on into today, storm surges, electrical outages, fires, heavy rains and enormous storm damage have ravaged the northeastern parts of the United States, particularly in the New Jersey and New York areas.   My heart goes out to folks whose homes were swept away by flood or fire, to folks who lost power and water and sewer services, and who will be without them for days to come.

I am especially concerned about my daughter and her family living in New York.  Their home is on high ground so they are lucky, above the danger of storm surges, though not immune to excessive rainfall and winds.  The huge trees they lost fell away from their house, with no loss of life or damages to homes.  They have no power but are still so lucky.

The next few days in New Jersey and New York will be filled with many stories of resilience and courage, as people help others who weren't so fortunate.  Everyone will be dealing with the after effects of Sandy.  Those who are able to wave their hands and say, "We're OK," will be able to assist those who have endured greater losses, those whose lives have been stripped bare.

My thoughts are with the millions who, with resilience, must face losses, and clean ups and rebuilding.  And my thoughts are with those first responders who, with courage, will be there on the front lines of the disasters bringing help and hope.

I wish them all the best as they deal with enormous clean up and repair tasks.

To my daughter and family, I'm sorry that you are going though this and I send love.

Happy Birthday to my Daughter



Happy Birthday to my Daughter

In the midst of a surprise snowstorm in October and more than a month early, an erratic labour produced a lovely child with enchanting pale blue eyes; eyes the colour of autumn morning skies.

A new woman in the world.  A tiny pink mouth in a miniature of her father’s face.

She would grow to be generous, make spontaneous decisions, and have boundless capacity for love and sudden laughter.

A mixture of warmth and adventure, ever bringing home stray friends, excelling at school and university, especially in the sciences, arts and writing.

A woman of strong will and inner strength, graceful movements and slow temper, wise counsel and empathy.

She is all this:  world traveller, gourmet cook, handy-woman, organizer, maker of lists, caretaker of the environment, working Mom, fierce and loving mother of two sons, civil engineer, wife.

And more:  red haired, blue-eyed baby, now Senior Construction Project Manager, with wicked wit like her Dad’s, fit and slender, healthy and strong, more beautiful than she knows herself to be.

Happy Birthday to my daughter...

As you walk your own path,

as you dream your own dreams,

as you live the life you choose,

may your living be blessed.

I love you,

Mum

Words and photo are ©copyright Carol Steel.

Someone Stole My Gargoyle

Someone Stole My Gargoyle

Someone stole my gargoyle from my garden.

He has travelled from house to house with me, each time I have moved over the past two decades.  He sat next to my back door at this house for seven years. 

This gargoyle is not large, just ten inches tall.  He is not scary-looking, just impish sitting with folded arms.  He is not expensive like some garden decorations can be.  He is just not here anymore.

What he is or was…was important to me.  My daughter gave him to me a long time ago when I was going through a bad patch, bereft and alone.  She gave him in recognition that I love stories about gargoyles, in recognition that gargoyles guard sacred spaces, in recognition that I hold my home (wherever it is) as sacred space, and as a reminder of her love for me.

And now he is gone; someone’s prank perhaps or a bit of mischief maybe—who knows.

I’ve wandered the yard and the neighbourhood looking for him, though he is so small, he would look like a large stone if someone had just pitched him.

I am unsettled that someone walked down my driveway and into the path, walked through the garden, stood outside my kitchen windows, so close to my door, all to steal something of little monetary value.  Yet this gargoyle is of great value to me.

There are few items I own I can’t bear to part with.  I don’t attach myself to things.  I have moved often and have faced life changes often; enough to know that things don’t matter as much as people and relationships.

This gargoyle however I was attached to; he was a gift from someone dear to me, someone who wanted me, whenever I looked at her gift, to be reassured she loved me.

And now he is gone.

I’ll get over it.

I have a lump in my throat and tightness in my chest.

I’ll get over that too.

How easily this thief has inflicted pain.  A joke, a dare, a thoughtless prank, someone stole my gargoyle from my garden.

Senseless.

This photo is mine.

Graduation Day 2012

Yes, there are more photos of my grand-daughter.  This is her high school graduation in a class of 419, the largest class to graduate from Halifax West High School.

We felt the excitement and the tension in the building. 

The High School did an excellent job of organizing the cermony. 

In 2.5 hours, it was complete.

The graduates turned and waved to family.

 

Nervous, waiting to go up on stage.

The graduate is pleased with herself.

And we're pleased for her too.

 

Happy Birthday Baby

Today is my first baby’s birthday.

More than a day of intense labour (as first labours often are) produced a lovely dark haired child with penetrating blue eyes.

A new woman in the world.  A tiny pink mouth in a miniature of her father’s round face.

She would grow to be frugal, make careful decisions, and have boundless capacity for love and sudden laughter.

A mixture of caution, adventure and loyalty, sneaking home stray kittens in her jacket, excelling at school and university, especially in the Sciences.

A woman of strong will and inner strength, quick movements and quicker temper, wise counsel and generous emotions.

She is all this:  Motorcycle driver, baker of cookies, handy-woman, organizer, maker of lists, promoter of fresh air and clean water, working Mom, fierce and loving mother of two, scientist, wife.

And more:  Dark haired, blue-eyed baby, now a woman with tattoos, wicked wit like her Dad’s, fit and slender, healthy and strong, more beautiful than she knows herself to be.

Happy Birthday to you!

As you walk your own path,

as you dream your own dreams,

as you live the life you choose,

may your living be blessed.

I love you my child.