Encouragement that Lasts

This branch of rosemary leans into the bloom of an Amaryllis that still grows from a bulb that many years ago bloomed in Mother's room. Rosemary stands for remembrance. The Amaryllis reminds me of perserverance.

So much has filled our days in the months since I last posted here. I have kept records of most of it in my other blogs and journal but this blog is devoted to family journey. The journey recently has been difficult and unprecedented. Global pandemic from a corona virus named Covid-19 and economic crisis continues as efforts begin to put pieces of the puzzle together. Today, over 100,000 people have died from the virus in our country alone, Unemployment claims have climbed beyond 40 million during a period in which schools, restaurants, churches, and all but essential businesses have been closed. Handwashing for 20 seconds often, disinfecting surfaces, wearing masks, and social distancing have become habits, Stay at home mandates have only begun to lift. Our church held its first short gatherings last week for the first time since mid March with many restrictions in place. I have journaled some of this because although it is something none of us will ever forget, writing is healing for me. By the grace of God I am able to continue dealing with the pain of recovery from my back injury and deliberately live in the moments of today, knowing I cannot add anxiety or fear for the future to the load. Simple things help me with that.

I find myself remembering childhood prayers, songs, and friends. Along with other people who mention it on FaceBook - I am choosing to cook simple comfort foods, often from old recipes. I made Mother's Mexican cornbread and chicken and dumplings. I got barley to make her Barley Burger Soup this week. I am thankful for many things, among them all the things my mother passed on to me, including endurance that leaned on faith. I wrote this several years ago and found it this morning.

For Opal

she played the first piano notes I ever heard,

loved all the old Baptist hymns plus

Rustic Dance and I Love You a Bushel and a Peck

took me to piano lessons and made sure I practiced

when I played my piano today, it was a tribute to her

she found the prettiest cloth to make my dresses

smoothing fabric on her bed, laying the tissue patterns, cutting with care

sitting for hours at her Singer

in front of the window where Hawthorne bloomed

pinning and fitting before hand-stitching hems

and teaching me that, too

she brought me yellow roses when I was a young mother of 3 sons

Tyler roses, tight yellow buds in a bunch

in her last years there were petals of yellow sticky notes

to remind me she loved me

I miss her laughter,

the magazine and newspaper clippings she used to send in letters

she had the most beautiful handwriting

I miss the way she loved coffee

the way she smelled of face powder and Tide

I miss sitting by her,

her wrinkled hands clapping with joy or clasped in prayer

clinging by faith until it was by sight

7Teion Parker, Amy Mitcham and 5 others

Making Music

Memories made 72 years ago unfold like a paper fan,  some sharp, some faded. Most likely, nothing is exactly as I remember this special evening, the first time I remember playing a piano for someone besides family or music teacher. Without even looking at the sepia photograph, I remember what I wore - a long pink eyelet dress with a slip underneath. There were ruffles where I remember wearing a pin in the shape of a tiny spoon that was enameled with roses. I look at the picture where my dark hair is parted in the middle. Normally straight as a stick, my mother valiantly tried many ways to give me fluffy curls. Instead of a wrist corsage,favored in later years, I  wore flowers in my hair.

Somewhere in one of my keeping boxes lies a yellowed program announcing the recital of the students of Mrs. Lottie Dee Stephens where my name and the title of the piece I played is listed among  more advanced musicians. I was 7, and had not been taking lessons long. In the years since, I have used my limited piano skills in different ways and different places, including being allowed to play the organ in the oldest Christian church in Jakarta, Indonesia, and playing the piano played by the last Queen of Hawaii. Joe gave me the wonderful gift of a baby grand piano in 1983 which has been shipped along with our household around the world. I am unable to sit down and enjoy playing currently due to my recovery from a back injury. I miss it.

I am thankful to my parents, who could ill afford my music lessons and to my mother for reminding me to practice. I am thankful I grew up in a church that helped me enjoy music and encouraged me to sing from the time I was much younger than I am in this picture. I am thankful for choirs where I have loved joining voices, and for the churches in different places where I have been allowed to help with children's choirs. I have had so much fun with toddler grandchildren, making music and marching.

 Nothing makes me happier than hearing my granddaughters sing,knowing they love music, watching them on their own paths of choirs and recitals.  Now, a grandson joins them. I am listening and loving it!