In an Irish Home

Dear Friends and Readers,

Today I wanted to write a quick blog of thanks to you.  I appreciate your friendship, no matter whether you are thousands of miles away, across the Atlantic ocean, or living locally around the corner.  These past few months have been trying.  As most of you now know my dear, beloved, grandmother passed away in November. Her struggle with cancer was brief.  She was graceful at every stage.  And in the end, when her time to leave was near, she told me “I’m not afraid to die”. Such a simple sentence but how meaningful it was for our family as she got ever closer to moving on. My father and I were fortunate to be with my grandmother as she took her final breath and left this world.

I feel no need for deep grieving.  Grandma lived life to the fullest: from riding motorcycles and surfing as a teenager to living in Vietnam during war-time to settling into being called “Grandma” and finally “the Grandma who is great” (only because being called “great-grandma” made her feel old!).  Now she is in a better place.  I feel her near me all the time and that is comforting.

Your friendship has also been comforting these past few months.  I thank you for calling, writing, emailing, sending flowers, offering to help with the children, going to church to have prayers said on Grandma’s and our behalf, and so much more.

You know that saying “life is short”? Well, it’s true.  Life is short but while we’re here we should make the most of the time we’ve got.  Kick up your heels.  Run out into the rain today without an umbrella.  Throw a snowball.  Kiss someone.  Call a friend you haven’t talked to in a long while.  Put down your anger and forgive.  Help a stranger. Listen. Learn.  Love.

I thank you.  I thank you for reading In An Irish Home and for supporting my efforts to get this fledgling idea off the ground. I thank you for your support in helping our family through these past few months and always being available for a chat, cuppa or a hug.  Most especially on this early morning in the Rockies…I thank you for your friendship and offer you this simple Irish blessing…”May you alway walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door”.

God Bless You.

* Photos are from the Celebration of Life we held in my grandmother’s honour last month.