Daily Archives: September 20, 2003

September 20, 2003 · 10:51 pm

Red Cards and Birthdays

Wow, this was a busy weekend.  And it’s not quite over yet.  I am feeling like there have been too many parties in the last two days.

Last night we went to the Red Card Cabaret.  This was the first annual big fund raiser for soccer.  It was planned to raise funds to send Sara’s team to Nationals in Halifax – but then they lost in the finals so they won’t nned the funds for themselves.  We decided to raise money anyway since we had already planned the event.  So if any team gets to that level they will have some funds to start out with.  We figure that if this is done every year, it will make it easier for the team taht will eventually go to  some playoff without the parents having to work like crazy to get enough funds.

And it turned out to be a fun evening.  Randall and Lauralea went with us and Lauralea won a doorprize.  Leo and I got to know some of the other soccer parents better and although it was lots of work it was fun too.

Today was the birthday celebration for my aunt.  She is going to be 80 on Wednesday.  We had a come and go tea for her and about 300 people showed up.  Aunty Florence is everyone’s auntie.  And Auntie Florence is how she is known to just about everyone in town.  But she really is my auntie.  She was my idol when I was little – I wanted to grow up to be just like her.  She is about as close to a saint as a person can get on this earth.  I’m not quite as much like her in that way! 

I must say the only thing not saintly about her is her driving – it is getting scary.  But the reasons why she needs to drive are saintly – she is always giving some one of her friends and aquaintances a ride.  And for years I depended on her to drive my children to their lessons while I was at work.  My kids loved having Auntie Florence pick them up.  She is a bit of a pushover when it comes to saying no to them and they would only have to mention that they were hungry and she would take them to A&W or McD’s. 

Anyway, I have about had enough late nights for this weekend and I am heading for my soft soft pillow.  Good night.

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Filed under Day to Day

September 20, 2003 · 10:15 am

And Shouldn't These Arms Be Black?

News of the death of  Bela on July 18, 2003  arrived by e-mail on Thursday .  News travels slowly sometimes – maybe no one thought the news was important.  Bela abnegated her motherhood early, probably too young to have much choice, choosing a lifestyle full of risks instead.   

 

Psalm 10: 17

 

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.

Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them.

 

Peace to the memory of Bela who gave us one of our most wonderful daughters.

 

And shouldn’t these arms be black?

 

The news comes.  Words;

Hard, cold and stark,

Stripped of tender intonation.

A death two full months past

Rips a strip of hope

From my young one’s heart.

Grief and tears flow forth,

Spilling in drops on my shoulders

As I hold her.

 

And shouldn’t these arms be black?

Should she not cradled be

By blood bonded love?

I feel a helpless stranger,

Intruder to the pain,

That I can never truly feel.

The mother’s arms

That never held her close,

Gone now forever.

 

She’s learned to shed her tears with me.

Arms willing to the task

Hold her in grief,

My pale hands

Caress her dark head.

God, you only know

How wrenched away are dreams,

The might have beens”,

She grieves for.

 

 

Psalm 27: 9 and 10

 

Don’t leave me now;

Don’t abandon me,

O God of my salvation!

Even if my father and my mother abandon me,

The Lord will hold me close.

 

Teach me how to live, O Lord.

 

 

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Filed under Dealing with stuff