Hi All,
Happy New Year… A brand new year.
Every year at this time, somewhere between Christmas and the first week of January, I take time to assess. To write down my thoughts, dreams, goals for the brand new year. Our second year without our beautiful Anne.
We had a pleasant Holiday… we got to spend time with 4 of our grandchildren and their parents at our home.
We have a place that provides for a lot of outside time, which is grand when you have a lot of people in one space.
The kids were a joy! This was the first time Anne and Patrick’s children were able to meet Megan and Max’s daughter.
Life … it had gotten in the way of this cousin introduction.
It was a delight to watch Max, Josie and Reggie meet Lucy. They were so kind and so excited to meet her, and Lucy was so happy too.
Max, he’s our oldest grand child, is 8 years older than Lucy. He’s 10 and she is 2… my heart was happy watching them play and hug… laugh and enjoy each other!
Since Anne has been gone, a beautiful white Heron has begun appearing at our home… on the beach, by the pool, flying over head, resting on the beach, just looking at us.
On Christmas night this beautiful creature appeared, and hung out with Lucy and her parents on the beach… it was magical, and moving.
When Patrick and the kids arrived, the Heron showed up quietly off to the side… when Bill was fishing with Max, our grandson, ( we also have Big Max, Megan’s husband… we have 3 sets of shared names in our family) and Megan, the Heron joined them in the water… and when Patrick and the kids left… while Bill and I were beginning to put the toys away and straighten the beach, the Heron appeared… just quietly stood there… and then gently fly away… off to the north.
All of these visits… magical … moving.
I don’t know what anyone else’s beliefs are. I however, am a spiritual person… and I believe that souls live on, and choose to connect with us after they leave this earth.
The Greeks believed that Herons are messengers from the Gods.
I copied this from my search as to the meaning of Herons when they appear in your life. I know that Anne is watching over us all. That she is present and near and helping our family, each and every one of us as we continue to try and navigate our new reality.
“The Greeks believed the heron was a messenger from the gods. The heron was thought to have been sent by Athena and Aphrodite, the goddesses of wisdom and love. Athena, for example, once sent a heron to Odysseus during his odyssey as a sign that she was watching him.”
As anyone who has had to deal with great loss knows, each person’s journey is unique to them. Their’s alone to navigate, even when there are others who want to help, it is still a singular path.
I am grateful for the presence of the Heron. She reminds me of Anne… tall, elegant with long beautiful legs. Graceful, and tricky… so full of power and quietly able to ascend quickly into the air.
Anne was quiet, elegant, powerful and beautiful. She was able to stand quietly off to the side, her presence known and her influence huge through her strength, her belief in her cheese mission… a mission that changed American Cheese and the people she touched.
As I reflected on my thoughts that early January morning, I knew that gratitude was one of the most powerful feelings I had.
Gratitude for the life my daughter had, for the life she led, for the difference she made.
Gratitude for her children, for her husband, for his determination to make her life continue to be relevant and powerful.
Gratitude that I got to be her Mom…
And I am grateful for you...for taking the time to read my words.
Thank you,
Pam