My daughter, Kate, used Random Tuesdays as a special day to post a variety of thoughts on her blog. I'm borrowing her idea today because my days have been so full of joy lately that I want to share some with you in a somewhat random way.
Despite a few embarrassing moments, and an occasional sarcastic comment or correction aimed in my direction, last week was particularly happy for me.
Gladys and John DeMerit arrived from Wisconsin and Susan DeMerit flew in from Seattle. It is always such fun to see members of our extended family especially for Agnes Rose and Bernadette to have both sets of grandparents around and having a grand time together. Kate and Ben came down from Boston as well. Karen and Joe hosted a Welcome Spring Open house on Saturday so we got to spend time with many old friends and lots of sweet, lovely babies all around Bernadette's age as well as some just right for Agnes Rose.
Friday night, Agnes Rose asked me to hula hoop with her. Well, you may be surprised to know that I could actually do it (thanks to the yoga, see below) - not well, but at least a couple of spins. After all, hula hoops were hot when I was a kid! While Ag, who will be three in October, pondered my attempts, she said, "Nana, I have a song about the hula hoop." I figured it was something from Sesame Street or Dora but when she sang it for me, I got such a kick out of it. She sang "Alleluia, Alleluia, let the holy anthems rise" our favorite Easter hymn but it came out "All lets hula, all lets hula, let the holy anthems rise." Talk about pure innocence! Of course, I asked her to sing it for Gramma DeMerit who enjoyed it as much as I.
My friend, Carol, filled us with joy just by her happiness when seeing Agnes Rose and Bernadette. Such patience and caring - this will be a fun summer for Ag when she visits Carol when we are all out east. She also brought a fabulous carrot cake - good thing it was before I met with the Endocrinologist on Monday.
Bernadette Lucille was baptized on Sunday. Pure joy to see all those beautiful babies being brought into a life of faith. The date just happend to fall the day after my Aunt Lou's birthday and "Lucille" is in remembrance of her. I found a few pennies during the week and just know it was Aunt Lou letting me know she knew what was happening in her honor.
I am taking a yoga class twice a week now (twice when I can get there!) My aim is to go three times a week but that will have to wait until autumn. My yoga class has opened a whole new world of joy to me - not only has this 62 year old former couch potato found a form of exercise that I love, I can't wait to get to class to see the gals. It is such a wonderful, joyful group of women - and none of us are spring chickens, let me tell you! I realized how much this yoga has added to my life when I was at MSKCC this week with a new Endocrinologist to work on bringing my glucose back in line. She kept a blood pressure cuff on me as my pressure was high (I was nervous) and she did not believe in taking one or two readings and then prescribing. She wanted to watch the pressure over a period of time. Well, nothing was making me relax or my pressure go down. Finally, I thought about how we begin and end our yoga practice with a form of meditation and that is just what I did. The doctor was amazed at how quickly my pressure lowered and stayed within the normal range for me. Jack was in a chair next to me and was amazed at how I learned to tune out....actually, he asked "where'd you go?"
Gladys, John and Susan had to head back to Wisconsin much sooner than expected as there was a sudden death in the family. No joy in that but a merciful way to pass for the deceased.
Yesterday Agnes Rose and I visited for about an hour as Joe took Bernadette to see the pediatrician. We had a picnic on the deck and then threw around a ball. Callie, the cat, came out of hiding under the hosta plants and she and Ag made a game of hide and seek. Ag and I walked around my overgrown flower beds and she admired my daylilies (which have invaded almost every inch of the garden) and we chatted about the garden. It reminded me of when Kate was about the same age as Ag and told me the lilies were "tropical" colors. There is great joy found in old memories as well as new moments.
As we walked around the flower beds, a magnificent Monarch butterfly took flight and danced over the flowers for us. Do you think it was Aunt Lou waving a cheery hello? I do.
May the joy overflow in your life.
Believe!
As always, love from me to you!
