We are at that time in a loved one's life. One of our fur kids, our babies since we don't have human ones. He is nearing 15 as best we can tell and is a rescue. His time is short now and lights are dimming quickly. The roller coaster of emotion is overwhelming lately. And on this holiday weekend, we hold vigil. And frankly we pray to God, the angels and our loved ones in Heaven to take him in the twilight of his sleep so that yet again we do not have to make a decision.
And as our hearts pull hard, our eyes water constantly, our nights are short and we busy ourselves in the beautiful weather of late summer with meaningless chores and movements, we are loved by a couple we have grown close to in the years here.
It is sometimes the simplest of gestures that get you over a hump of sadness. The smallest things that make you smile and laugh and share time with hearts of the same soul. Thus was our Saturday afternoon of Labor Day weekend today with Cheri and Rusty.
Cheri had posted on social media that the trick-or-treaters were getting tomatoes this year because they had more than a bumper crop. I had responded that I'd take whatever she had...I LOVE TOMATOES! When she sent me a note asking what we were doing for the holiday weekend I told her hanging out because our elder pup was on borrowed time and we wanted to be here for him. She asked if she and Rusty could stop by around noon. OF COURSE!
And just like that, this afternoon as I sat in the den watching the little man sleep and busying myself with a crafty kind of project, they came in the back gate complete with lunch. Those tomatoes I had coveted were in the form of caprese salad and the makin's for BLT sandwiches. Completed with the hugs and smiles we knew we needed and we saw walking through the back gate.
And as we happily sat on the deck with lunch, I was humbled and marveled at the same time at how blessed we are to have friends who just "got it." They understand what we are going through, they have been through it. They know the little man and his story and they love him too. They knew that a simple lunch on the deck for an hour or so lifts the heart and lets us know that they are with us in spirit and right now. They knew that the chat, the giggles, the easy talk was our soft place to fall.
Our friend Cindy is here helping us through this tough time too. She texts me every day asking about the little man. Giving me suggestions to help him feel easy, feel peace. She is a soul that when you meet her just exudes love, generates a beautiful energy that puts you at peace. And knowing this beautiful woman's story, I would never think she would be the soul she is. But to say I am grateful, we are grateful, is a profound understatement of expression in response to her loving care in helping our fur kid and loving us.
I have found over the last couple of years that my blessings in friendships and relationships have come full into my heart and life and many of those I thought were friends or "family" were simply ghosts in the shadows. To say that I am grateful for these loved ones, these beautiful souls and hearts who are there for us as we go through the tough times, there are simply not enough words to express how much we love them, treasure them, value them and hold them deeply in our hearts. There are many nights that as I lay awake watching the little man to see if he is breathing still, watch an episode of Chicago PD as the hubs sleeps in brief stints because he is going through the same feelings, I take inventory of the love we have experienced in the last year or two.
There is an old saying that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Truer words were never spoken. And the love from those in our circle, the love that creates that soft place to fall in sad times, blooms like the flowers in our oasis where we sit with the hummingbirds and petunias each day to gather in the peace of the summer and the beauty we create for ourselves in the yard here.
It's a tough time right now. And as fall approaches we know what is right behind it making it even harder. But knowing we have the love in our lives, the support system of people like Cheri and Rusty, the love and grace of Cindy helping us through this oncoming loss, there is such comfort and gratitude.
And as I try very hard to remember to say out loud every single day...Thank you God for my blessings...the infinite number of blessings I've been given.
