Friday Fav’s–October, Week Four

I haven’t been on my computer much for the past three weeks…not blogging and not commenting much either.  The truth is, it’s been a hard month.  I’ve just returned from my Dad’s home again after an intense week and a half of arranging and holding a celebration of life gathering and then clearing out his house. 

Dad lived in the same home for almost 50 years and as a child of the depression, he didn’t throw much out. Going through his belonging was a huge physical and emotional task and felt a little intrusive. 

Before he died he asked my brother and I to be careful of what we threw out and ( I quote here) “it may look like junk to you but it’s my junk!  He kept a lot of historical memento's, so I’ve been going through boxes and drawers and very carefully weeding through papers, photographs, old documents, journals, letters and more...much, much more…all the while, talking to my father as I sort.  I apologized a lot (Dad, I can’t keep everything…I’m sorry, but this has to go).  As you might imagine or may know from personal experience, it’s a difficult task of balancing practicality with integrity.  These things were all important to my father.

And because it’s Friday and because I haven’t had the time or the energy to do anything creative and because my thoughts are scattered and swirling around in my head from all this emotional intensity, I thought I’d do another “Friday Fav’s” to help sort the past week out….

 

 

This week’s Friday Fav’s...

Favourite moment:  Listening to each of my three beautiful and all-grown-up children, speak at their grandfathers celebration of life gathering.  I’m proud, inspired and awe struck by the amazing love, wisdom and clarity that they each hold and emanate into the world.

What's making me happy: Listening to Eloheim's weekly online meeting. This week the question to ask (ourselves) was “What is it about being human that I love the most”? For me: shared laughter, deep connection with others, creativity and being in nature. We were asked to narrow it down to one (deep connection) and then ask ourselves to notice how we might be limiting this in our lives. (ie, worrying, or spending time watching TV rather than being with others or working through a lunch hour rather than going out for a walk in nature, etc). This work with Eloheim is literally making me a happier person as I shed the dross.

 

Quote of the week:

(don’t you think it’s easier to hear the truth when Johnny is the one telling it to you?)

 

Source of creative inspiration:  I love this little tutorial by Judy Wise on how to make a paper bag art journal.  It's not too involved and paper bags are easy to find!  I think I’ll save it for next spring/summer when my studio is finished and I have the space.

 

Great source of laughs this week:  In a moment of frustration, Mr. I grabbed my father’s “Dammit Doll” and wacked it against a chair, saying “dammit, dammit, dammit”!  It completely cracked us all up!  It was the end of a long week and we were physically and emotionally exhausted.  The perfect release valve! 

(if you’ve never heard of a Dammit Doll, it’s a stuffed doll, about 10” long (it has long legs which make it easier to hold on to it while you’re whacking).  They come with these instructions:

Whenever things don't go so well

and you want to hit the wall and yell,

here's a little Dammit Doll

that you can't do without.

Just grasp it firmly by the legs

and find a place to slam it,

and as you whack it’s stuffing out,

yell "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"

...It felt so good, he brought the doll home!

 

Image of the week:

Freedom

acrylic painting on wood by Duy Huynh

 

I love the magic in this image and the sense of lightness and hope.

Surely a dress made of beautiful white doves is possible? Surely this dress will lift me and carry me into places and opportunities yet undreamed of, curiosities yet unimagined?

Well of course it’s possible…If you believe….and oh yes, I do believe!

 

Best blog post of the week:  In The Transition.  I’ve “known” Rox for several years now, via the internet, ever since her “Beach Walks with Rox” vlogging days.  I love this post. 

 

Have a beautiful weekend dear friends….sending huge hugs and blowing kisses to you where ever you are in this big, amazing world.

Comments

[olivia]

What a beautiful post, kate, and what a time I'm sure you've been through. I appreciate your posting at this time. It makes me think about my own stuff too, and how it means a lot to me now, but at some point there will be someone going through mine as well. Life is quite temporary.

When my best friend Chani died 2 1/2 years ago (I can't believe how quickly time has passed), she had many things that meant a lot to her, plus she had borrowed some special things from me to use. Her estranged family had strangers come in and take everything to the dump. Hearing that felt like such a violation. Knowing that special things I had looked forward to her using (books she had borrowed and clothes she was borrowing as she lost weight) had vanished to the dump felt very odd. Again, life is so temporary. And our stuff the same.

On the other hand, I have a plastic colander that was my mother's. She died 31 years ago. That plastic colander is my favorite and I still use it. Such a trivial thing to last 31 years beyond a life...

Anyway, I'm rambling in the comments, but your post made me think.

So glad you had the celebration and heard your children, that you are growing spiritually, and that you are thriving in the midst of everything! xoO

[martie]

I think "emotionally draining" is the understatement of the year, Kate! You had a lot on your plate, but I am sure as with most things in your life you did all of it with compassion and grace. My folks are still with us, and I am enjoying every day of that -- dreading when they are gone and going through their life collections. I am so happy that all your kids were able to be there at the Celbration of Life. Take care, dear one. (And I love the Capt Jack quote - everything is better with Johnny!)

[tanna]

Kate, I am so sorry for your loss... There are never adequate words. Your children are beautiful. Hugs to you, my friend. blessings ~ tanna

[Helen Morley]

Kate you are truly blessed. The process of sorting through your father's treasures are surely a metaphor. All part of the journey through that place we know as grieving. Vaya con Dios xo

[Kimbundance]

KATE you are blessed and appreciated. Many blessings to you during this time.