golfing in heaven ...

Thank you for the gift of allowing me to see how you see me in last Sunday's blog post! I found the comments so interesting, so insightful, so revelatory. If you live with someone, there's a constant feedback that you're always getting: comments, opinions, conversation, the give-and-take of living with others. I don't have that since I live alone, so to get your feedback was very enriching to me. Thank you for holding up a mirror and letting me see myself through your eyes. (I really do like my cool aqua kitchen, btw.)

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On to other things, things that are weighing on my heart and thoughts right now ...

My godfather (my "nino" in Spanish), one of my uncles, crossed over this week.

Uncle Art was 85 years old, one of my mother's brothers, very fit, still playing golf, still with his thick, gorgeous head of hair. He owned a number of successful car dealerships in his lifetime, and did quite well for himself and his family. Playing golf was his big passion and he played as often as he could. All my mom's brothers were/are very handsome men, full of the devil (as my dad would say), very sharp dressers, fabulous dancers. There are only two siblings left out of the ten original kids now; my Uncle Alfred crossed over just last October.

I love so many things about getting older except the fact that those who have loved us since we were born get older, too ... and then cross over. It’s sad to lose those who have been a part of our lives forever. They’re part of our identity, you know? These are people who have been part of my entire life's journey. People who have known me and have been forged into my DNA. When I am with these people, I am not a successful careerwoman, a homeowner, a mother and grandmother; I am a niece, a cousin, a small part of a large family. I am part of them, they are part of me.

At Uncle Alfred's funeral last year, I was speaking with my nina (Uncle Art's wife), and told her of my memories of the year when I was about 5 and she and my nino bought for me a rabbit fur stole, handmuff and hat, in the softest white fur one could imagine. I loved that set. My nina threw her head back and laughed. "Well, you said you wanted a fur coat and so we had to get you a fur coat." Sharing that story with her, I was her 5-year-old goddaughter again, delightedly (and perhaps a little too proudly) wearing her white fur.

And now we're to say goodbye for now to another of my uncles, my dear nino/godfather, Uncle Art. (He's on the far right in Mom and Dad's wedding photo above. Uncle Alfred is on the far left.) So difficult for my nina, for their son, for my remaining uncles, for my cousins. I'm sure my mom, aunt and uncles all welcomed him joyfully into heaven. I really hope they have a very nice golf course there for him to enjoy for Eternity.

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord ...
... and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.