Photographs and anecdotes

Today would have been Mom and Dad's 45th wedding anniversary. Mom always looked forward to this day, as a reminder of the public sign of their commitment to each other, and to our family. It is the first wedding anniversary since Mom died and I can't imagine how Dad feels. We have arranged to meet up at Mom's tree later and then have dinner together.

It's these little things we do that make each day bearable and the future brighter. And it reminds me of the importance of keeping memories alive, not just for our generation, but for the generations to come. Mom's grand children will grow up with only a vague recollection of her face and voice. Photographs and anecdotes will give us all strength. Mom was very proud of her family and we must be proud of ourselves.

MOM'S TREE OF LIFE

We scattered Mom's ashes around a particularly lovely beech tree. In the summer she stood proudly full of leaves, her lower branches reaching out to us as we stood together in our sadness and loss. This tree will forever be Mom's tree. Her leaves turned the most stunning autumnal burnt orange and today I noticed they have all dropped onto the rich carpet below.
Leonardo da Vinci noted that the pattern of branching in trees was nature's way of withstanding the elements. Briefly, when the cross section of the trunk matches the cross sections of all the branches at any given height, the tree resisted wind damage. Scientists are going to use this information from nature to design wind-resistant buildings. 

I love the changing seasons and I love the symbolic way Mom's tree reminds me of the life force in us all. She stands tall in the woods, through the seasons, providing shelter under her boughs, just like Mom did. I wonder how she will look draped in snow? And I can't wait to see the first signs of new life in the spring.

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