Day 174+19 - Canonised

Somewhere between a pork chop and dessert during lunch at her retirement home, Granny Joyce zoomed out of her body and into eternity. Nearly 98 years old. Kind, firm, totally with it. Fully present in her body to the last exhale and then immediately present with her Lord. This is zooming at its ABSOLUTE best! 

Breathe out here, breathe in there. 

Reminded of eternity just beyond our vision. Of hope found just that other side of despair. Of love which reaches out to hold us when we least expect it. Of kindness in a smile. Or maybe the R10 handed to a car guard in a damp parking lot.

Contrasts everywhere, and so the wheel turns. A baby's first cry, a toddlers wail, a child's laughter, tween humour, teen angst. 

The impeccably dressed couple walking out of an informal settlement to visit church or the mall. The scruffy adults from high end homes. Hands and hearts that meet between. A grandfather in third world Sri Lanka whose grandchildren are first world Europeans. 

Rest well, Granny Joyce. Be renewed, Thatha Meas. 

Day 174: Connoisseur

Food in lockdown. Sigh. Fussy eaters. Sigh some more. Tonight is a sample of what each day is like...

Me (trying out an oat cookie recipe): So, do you like the cookies?

Child 1: They were amazing. I even shared them with my friends. Jamie and Izzy said they are sooooo good!

Me: And you? (to Child 2)

Child 2: Not really.

Me: But you took two to school. Did you share them?

Child 2 (indignant): NO!

Me: So you ate them. 

Child 2: Yes. So?

Me: So you like them?

Child 2: No. They're ok. 

Me: OK, so I won't put any in your lunch box tomorrow?

Child 2: You can put them in my lunchbox. 

Me: Hmmm.  

And then pasta sauce tonight...

Dad: This is REALLY good!

Child 2: It's ok. 

Child 1: I loooove it when you make spaghetti sauce! 

Me: What do you mean it's ok?

Child 2: Well, its really good, but you forgot the red wine. 

Me: We don't have red wine.

Child 2: Well, we did have red wine. Did you drink it all? You shouldn't have drunk it. But I guess this sauce is ok. But it would have been better with red wine.  (Goes back for second and third helpings). You should use red wine next time, really.

As I am pondering the idiosyncrasies of Child 2 and his food requirements, Child 1 walks in and finds me writing this and spots my cookie, the fifth last cookie in what was a FULL large cookie jar last night. 

Child 1: Ohhhhhhh! (with her eyes fixed firmly on my cookie, although she ate a toasted sarmie at 5.30, 2 apples at 5.45 and a bowl of pasta at 6.15)

Me: NO! MINE!

Child 1 starts the puppy eyes. I stuff the cookie in my mouth, take a bite, put it down well out of her reach and keep on writing while Child 1 reads over my shoulder, giggling. 

Child 1: Are we really like that?

Me: Hah! Go and shower before we are loadshed! 

Anyone else relate?