Mourning and Dancing

 

The month of September has been so lovely with the milder temperatures, the stunning sunsets, the geese staging on the lake, birds at the feeder, etc. There is also a whiff of melancholy, the knowledge that these days are fleeting and winter will greet us before we know it. It has its own beauty of course, but can we hang on to these lovely autumn days, just a bit longer, please?

Bois d'esprit, a park close to my house

I decided (with some trepidation) to participate in our church retreat at a church camp. I'm still learning how to navigate the social activities without my partner of 55 years. It has been a learning curve...However, I need not have worried, I felt loved and accepted, and enjoyed every minute! 

Back at home, reminiscing about the event, I realized that I was the second oldest person there! That was also the spot I occupied in my biological family consisting of eight of us siblings! I had an older brother who mostly absented himself from family responsibilities; two younger brothers who made some outrageous claims just for the shock effect--didn't work, as I caught on to their games quickly; four younger sisters who loved my stories and listened for a while, then got busy making or imagining their own stories. Hmmm...Much like  my church family, actually...so I felt quite at home.

I hope I have gained some wisdom over the years! Mostly I have learned from the children, who in their innocence have so much to teach us.  

What are they looking at?

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