Back to Blogging

Apologies to any readers who may have wondered about my absence. My father died last week, and I'm just now returning to my normal schedule. Expect new posts beginning tomorrow (Friday).

Comments

[Kim]

So sorry to hear of your loss. I was wondering if everything was okay with you.

[Karen]

So very sorry to hear of your father's death. Wishing you peace,
Karen
P.S. I am unable to email you. I tried to reply to your comment on my blog, but it bounced back.

[...tom...]

...
My condolences also.

Nothing makes one feel truly mortal more than does the loss of a parent.

...tom...
"Parents, however old they and we may grow to be, serve among other things to shield us from a sense of our doom. As long as they are around, we can avoid the fact of our mortality; we can still be innocent children."
Jane Howard
.

[Night Writer]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Nancy. I heard this poem on the radio the day my grandfather died 10 years ago, and I ran it on my blog when my father passed away last October. Peace.

"Shifting the Sun"

When your father dies, say the Irish,
you lose your umbrella against bad weather.
May his sun be your light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Welsh,
you sink a foot deeper into the earth.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Canadians,
you run out of excuses. May you inherit
his sun, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the French,
you become your own father.
May you stand up in his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Indians,
he comes back as the thunder.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Russians,
he takes your childhood with him.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the English,
you join his club you vowed you wouldn’t.
May you inherit his sun, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Armenians,
your sun shifts forever,
and you walk in his light.

by Diana Der Hovanessian,
from the book “Selected Shorts”
published by Sheep Meadow Press.

[AC]

My warmest thoughts to you.

(brings me to say):
your words have brought me great joy / laughs / sighs.
thank you. thank you.
AC.

[Jody]

Sending you my sympathies and thoughts on your loss. I appreciate the Shifting the Sun poem very much. Peace and light, Jody