It’s
a good year for the lilies. I am finding delight in the bursts of orange
cheerfully appearing in random patches in our yard and along the country roads
at this time of summer. The wild raspberries are soon to follow.
This is not our usual 4th
of July. Last night, our 17-year old daughter flew across the world to Japan to
begin a three-week adventure as one of five American kids chosen to be Junior
Fellows by the Japan Society. It was a 14-hour flight, and I woke up about
every two hours, marveling that she still has 8 more hours, six more, four
more, two more before she lands. I thought about how long it takes to fly to
Chicago or LA, and with each sleepless hour, it felt like she was going further
and further away. Finally, at 4:30 am, she texted us to say that she had
arrived and she loved us. Relieved, but wide awake, I got up to make a pot of
coffee.
I began thinking about love. The lesson I learned earlier this summer was
how deep and strong the love is between me and my husband. It took two summers
in a row in which he almost died (Lyme Disease that went to his heart last year
and the crazy tractor accident two months ago) for me to really get it deep in
my bones that this is what real love is all about. Now, in proudly watching my daughter bloom
and leave the nest, I know that I will be getting another lesson in love. This
one is about letting go. As much as I
already miss her, I know that she is ready to fly and I need to trust that she
will always want to come home to tell us all about what she saw and what she
did and what she learned.
Meanwhile, the horses are very happy
that I am paying so much attention to them.
“To live in this
world
you must be able
to do three things
to love what is
mortal;
to hold it
against your bones
knowing
your own life
depends on it;
and, when the time
comes to let it go,
to let it go.”
––Mary Oliver
6 comments:
Beautiful post. I love that Mary Oliver passage. It is true and it's the time in my life when I'm facing it a lot more than I used to have to do. Safe travels to your daughter, safe nesting to you and the crew at home!
Thanks Billie - I know with your son going off to college soon, you are feeling the same way. We invested ourselves in them for many years, now we just have to have faith that what we put in actually stuck to them. I'm very lucky to have such a great kid!
The tiger lilies are beautiful this time of year. I love seeing them lining the country roads around here.
I hope your daughter has a wonderful adventure in Japan. It's hard to watch them leave but it would be worse, I think, to never have them try new things and spread their wings. She'll be back soon with a great experience and memories to share with you and your husband.
So true, Arlene - Maybe while she's away, her mom and dad can play. Let's get together soon. And as for the tiger lilies, my friend refers to them as "ditch lilies", true but not exotic enough for me. Happy 4th!
You have it all figured out Victoria. You must be so proud of your daughter! I sure hope your husband is doing well and stays out of trouble for the next few decades.
We have hundreds of daylilies...it certainly has been a banner year for them. Keep busy with those ponies. Did you line drive them yet?
Your daughter was brought up by love, the most fertile ground in which to grow, and she is.
I love the wild lilies that "neither sow nor spin nor gather into barns" and our wet weather this year has made them prosper.
Hope you and your husband continue on your own wild path together...be well!
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