E and I were going out to take the recycling to the transfer station this morning.  As we approached the end of our driveway, I saw in the dusting of snow two very distinct and large hearts which were made by someone evidently turning around in our driveway.  I stopped the car at the same time E said “hey do you see those hearts?”  We looked and smiled and as we pulled out of the driveway E said “Someone loves us.”

Thank you, thank you for talking with me about mortality and life and living and dying.  It is always enriching to me to learn how others grapple with the unknown.  Reflecting upon the honor of being at births and deaths always gives me a warm heart.  I am awed by these experiences.  I firmly believe that having midwives at both transitions is as it should be.  Having been in that pseudo role on a few occasions has enriched my spirit.

Many many moons ago I was given a passage that I committed to memory immediately.  I wrote it, I painted it, I wrote it again.  I recited it.  Long days have passed since then, and I found myself reciting it to B during our preslumber time the other night.  I think I remember who gave it to me and will ask her if it was she the next time we speak.  However, I had no source.  Then I attempted to write it down here and saved it as a draft.  I went into the shower for a long hang out in the steam and warm, and remembered more.

And so today, I opened the draft up to find the source and the exact passage.  Some Little Sisyphus must have snuck in.  My provider of so much.   We were both fairly impressed at how close my ‘draft’ was to the actual wording.  (It amazes me that my space cadette brain holds on to the gems no matter how garbled it gets with all the other stuff.  Don’t get me started on all the numbers I retain.  GEEZ.)

Anyway, here is my absolute most favorite passage of all time.  It is so fitting at this point and time in our life lesson.