I’m in the middle of writing a post about the visit of our dear friends from France, Pascale, Jacky, and Pascale’s daughter Anna, but while I was stalling a bit to see if Pascale would send me any photos I should be sure to include, life got in the way. I promise to finish it soon, but couldn’t let today pass without a quick note of gratitude that 66 years ago today, my beloved David was born. Two years ago, I posted this, neither of us knowing his cancer would be discovered within a month. And now he’s been gone seven months. Yes, he has “slipped the surly bonds of earth” * but he is certainly not forgotten.  (*John Gillespie Magee Jr.)

I’m at Sunapee today, where David celebrated so many birthdays . . .

Always loved those dimples — but even more the man, of course! Excellent work, there, God!

I still miss David so much, but try to focus more on the very great blessing it was to share nearly forty years of my life with him. His spirit is very much alive with me and with all who love him, and for that I am also profoundly grateful.

Here’s hoping you lift a word or thought of thanks today for our beloved David and the joy he brought to all of our lives!

It has been a crazy busy few weeks, and I’m just barely catching my breath. Chelsea and Brian were married on the 26th of May, which also happened to be the 40th anniversary of the day David and I met. Here’s a shot of David on our honeymoon six months later. It took five or six tries to get this shot, with David riding back and forth on the borrowed bike and me snapping away at just exactly the WRONG moment. And of course this was back in the days of film!

The wedding was very beautiful — Chelsea’s and Brian’s, that is; David’s and my wedding was super lame, but the marriage was EXCELLENT, so that’s what matters!

Yes, I realize it looks like everyone they know was in the wedding party, but there were actually a few guests as well! They know a LOT of people. It was touching to see so many of the extended family who had traveled so far yet again, since many had also been here for the celebration of David’s life in January.

David’s brother Doug stood in for David in walking Chelsea down the aisle. I didn’t realize how perfectly it would coordinate with the lupines when I cast my vote for the purple tie, but there you go!

All evening, the light just kept getting more and more beautiful, and David was very much with us in spirit.

There were certainly tears shed, especially during the reception whenever a Van Morrison song was played, but there were also plenty of smiles and a lot of love, and a great deal of very welcome gentleness shown to those of us still missing David so much.

A few days after the wedding, Pascale, Jacky, and Pascale’s daughter Anna arrived from France, but I think I’d better save that for the next post.

Welcome to the family, Brian!

What a very great thing it is to be surrounded by so many friends and family. Whether you were here in person or here in spirit, your love and well-wishes were felt.  You are my treasured dear ones. Bless you.

Although the weather has been a bit rainy and cool the past few days, overall lately it has been absolutely glorious, and that helps both with my general mood and with my desire to get out and walk. Being more active is surely also improving my overall mental health.

I don’t generally carry my digital SLR camera on walks, but I’ve snapped a few shots from my phone, so let’s see how that goes. All the photos in this post were taken with my phone, (except the last one, taken a year ago in France).

The trees and shrubs have been in flower all over Fort Collins, and some are even beginning to lose their blooms as the leaves push them aside, promising summer just around the corner. Fortunately, I have friends who also appreciate glorious days and getting outside to soak in the beauty, so I have plenty of opportunities for company in my ramblings.

My friend Christy walks with me in City Park and Grandview Cemetery, the same walk David and I did so many times together. Bonus, now that Tom and Christy live right across from the park, Christy and I can end each walk with a glass of wine at their house. Cheers!

And my friends Rik and Nikki live in a place that is practically their own private park:

Yeah. All these, plus HUNDREDS more, are in their YARD. The previous owner is a horticulturist of some renown, so there is not one blade of traditional grass and almost everything is an unusual variety of the types of plants you usually see. There are paths everywhere and various lovely places to sit and sip something refreshing while enjoying the view. It’s like the best kind of field trip, plus friends.

With all the benefit I seem to be getting from these walks, it occurred to me the other day that it’s a bit like I’m on a sort of walkabout (with handy breaks for a comfortable bed each night and indoor plumbing as needed, thankfully). Of course, the traditional walkabout was a process of transition from one stage of life to another and certainly involved spending a great deal of time in nature, and that is sort of what I’m doing. Fortunately, mostly I get to do my walking about with friends.

I’ve learned grief is not linear, so I may have a stretch of good days, then an abrupt crash into wrenching sorrow, but the duration and frequency of the tough times have not been too bad lately.

Still, I can’t bear to not include David, so here’s a favorite picture of David walking about La Rochelle last May. He is not forgotten, of course. I know he would be (or even in some mysterious way, is) happy that I’m not quite so fragile these days. I’m making plans and doing new things, just as David and I had talked about so many times after his diagnosis, trying to envision how I would  continue to live and grow without my best friend. I heard an intriguing idea in a bereavement group I’ve been attending lately: To develop some positive quality or gift or talent originally brought out and encouraged by your beloved is a way of giving back to them, even now.

And bonus, you may manage to benefit someone else as well in the process!

Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?  * Benjamin Franklin

We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts. * Madeleine l’Engle

Wishing you opportunities . . . for growth, for appreciating the beauty of nature, and most of all for deepening friendships.