It was bizarre - and lovely - to walk out of the funeral into the perfection of yesterday. The sky was sparkling blue, the cherries were at maximum pouf, the birds were singing. It was so poignant. Wow. You can not plan for events like yesterday so when they come around, it's only respectful to pay attention.
I felt like Bud Cort at the end of Harold and Maude. I even thought I should maybe learn to play the banjo, though by the time I got back to my neighborhood, I'd put that thought away.
Here I've been winge-ing about middle age, for heaven's sake. Though true that it's weird (middle age), on a gorgeous day like yesterday, particularly right after attending a funeral, it's hard to be critical of anything. My client's death really helped me remember to just be here now, enjoy, not worry and fuss and think so much.
Tomorrow the cherries at the Tidal Basin will be at their peak. I'm going to sneak down early before the masses of tourists decend so I can have a little private time with those amazing beings.
Life is good and I am grateful. L'chaim, ya'all.
30 comments:
You know you've created the monster - I expect to find a fabulous photo from you, first thing every morning.
SPECTACULAR
It's so gloomy and rainy here - and I'm on my way to a funeral- weird as I was just thinking it was a fitting mood.
No matter, life is good! http://maryschurch.blogspot.com/2008/11/1108-thanksgiving.html
It's my motto, too
Thanks for the reminder of how good Harold & Maude really is. I have it on my recordings from TCM to watch & just haven't gotten around to it. It'll be a treat to watch it from the perspective of an (almost) old woman now as opposed to the kid I was when it came out.
I hope you have a good day & enjoy the cherry blossoms!
I'll be thinking of you, while you enjoy those gorgeous pinks. Nothing like a walk while looking at the sky & the beauty around.
Funerals make one think don't they. Life just keeps going on no matter what happens to you or the person next to you.
Life is good isn't it !!!!
I am an odd ball. Usually at funerals I truly embrace the person we are paying tribute to. I appreciate their lives. I love hearing the eulogies. I smile at their lives. I cherish the memories and hope that I will make them proud. However, I mourn for the families that will be lost without them. And I have trouble with losing young unexpected loved ones.
I pay attention to details, such as the sky, the air. I feel their presences.
The last funeral I went for was for a lovely elderly Italian woman & I know she would have loved the way her funeral went.
Life is Good. We must not forget. We need to live life to its fullest and appreciate what and who we have.
What beautiful images. I agree...soak up what's around you. Especially new life in bloom.
Janis, that's just how it is for me, too. Paradoxical.
Maybe that's "the" truth - paradox.
Lovely post-- life goes on & the cherry blossoms keep blooming-- you're right, it's important to spend time with these-- lately, I've been taking to walks thru our pasture for the first time in a few years & finding a lot of peace out there.
But why rule out the banjo?!?
I can imagine it must have felt rather surreal. But lovely nonetheless..A perfect reminder about living in the Now. Oh and I forgot to comment on the absolutely stunningly beautiful cherry photos on the previous posts - I've been so busy trying to catch up on 4 days of blogging time!! Looking foward to seeing more, from the Tidal Basin!
The farmer took down the tree at the end of our driveway a couple of days ago because it was blocking the view of the road. The insects and squirrels and song birds are suddenly homeless and confused. One life gone, that touched so many, will be missed profoundly. But soon all the creatures that made their homes in that life will go on and make new homes and live to sing again. "There is no end to the circle." -I love Harold and Maude.
It's an interesting thing you've touched upon. I am always amazed after attending a funeral, to look around and see that life is buzzing all around. You somehow feel changed and moved by the experience of bearing witness to the end of a life, yet the rest of the world just keeps rolling on along.
My grandmother always told me that one should wear a dark color to a funeral to symbolize mourning for the one that is lost, but a bright color to symbolize life. I always liked that idea and have always done so. Death is, after all, part of that great circle of life, isn't it?
Funerals are strange things for me. I lost my much younger sister on Christmas eve of 2000. When all of her friends and our relatives were ogling her body (a very odd Christian custom to me), I didn't want to. Not that I couldn't, I just wanted to remember her the way she was when she was alive and vital.
When I first saw Harold and Maude (still one of my favorite movies) in 1971, I related so much to Harold's attitude (except for the sex part because I was married to a beautiful, olive skinned Greek woman at the time).
I saw it recently and I still can relate to Harold, but I can see Maude's side so much better now. I've been through so much and still crave more out of life...so, no drastic actions on my 80th. I hope to still be craving more at 80 and on. But, like your friend, if it ends tomorrow, make it a great ride. Carpe diem! Live, love, laugh and be joyful for all we have is now!!
The here and the now.
I think that's the ticket.
I haven't seen that movie for ages. I'll have to watch it again.
Tuesday, Mar 31st, 2009 -- Your creative energies are running strong now, enabling you to produce very original work. This may not be such a good thing if you are hard at work in the trenches, for you won't likely have a healthy outlet for your self-expression. But no matter how constrained you are by your current job, you must find ways to enjoy yourself by being spontaneous. Ultimately, new ways of doing things will overtake and replace worn-out or even counterproductive habits.
for both of us my talented sister
with all my love
The imagery that popped for me as I read your first paragraph, was balance. Inside, an ending. Outside, a beginning. Inside, death. Outside, life.
And I loved Harold and Maude.
L'chaim
Thanks as always to all for the wisdom and thoughtfulness that goes into the comments.
All I did today was wander around DC taking pics and listening to the ipod. There is so much light in my brain I can hardly believe it!
Good pics tomorrow, I guarantee it!
gorgeous photos....thanks for bringing some the glory of dc spring to me....
I think you should go for it - playing the banjo that is....this morning I mused to john (the banjo man) that maybe I should pick up the uke!
to the neverending circle! l'chaim
harold and maude....definitely need to check that out been too long...
I watched Harold and Maude last summer while visiting a friend. It is so dated. Afterwards I found myself scratching my head, wondering why we called the police "pigs." ?? That's not very nice!
But the movie is so charming that it's well worth it. After thinking about it, I googled Bud Cort. He's 61 years old! But he still has dimples.
John and Mouse, re the banjo - who knows? Anything could happen.
Thank you for the absolutely gorgeous photos and the brilliant reminder. This whole post would look good framed.
I remember the day my Mother died.
I too, was centered on the moment and even angry that the sun was shining and the birds were still singing. "How could they? Didn't they know what had just happened?!"
It took a while to forgive them and be able to rejoice again in their beauty. But beautiful they are!
The picture is fabulous, darling! Jake takes a fine photo.
You're right, life is great.
I adore that movie..Harold and Maude. You remember the song that she gets him to sing?
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
cause theres a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
cause theres a million ways to go
You know that there are
Chorus:
You can do what you want
The opportunitys on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
Its easy ah ah ah
You only need to know
I had to pull out Cat Stevens just for that and dance! I'm looking forward to pictures, I know they will be just lovely.
Thank you for your advice..
Here, here.
May your friend rest in peace.
Beautiful. I'll be back to check out tomorrow's photos.
Life is indeed a paradox - simple, yet profound. Profoundly simple.
Can't wait for the pics.either!
The Cherry blossoms were spectacular.Thank You. :D
And also,awwwwh gee Reya, I just noticed the link to Jessica in your sidebar...that is such a surprise, and so nice. We are honored.
Reya: I love ya more than color t.v., but for God's sake, cut through an alley once in a while. These blossoms are driving me nutz. "Come to dee islands...come to Jamaica. Come to dee cee...come to dee blossom." That noise? It was...a car backfiring. Yeah. A car.
:::whistling and staring at corner of the ceiling:::
P.S. I've got a hardcover of Harold and Maude I was going to Amazon. Ya want it?
gorgeous photos! and a beautiful heartfelt reminder - thank you and i love the light in your head today :-)
Cube? Get out there, open your eyes wide and drink in the pinkness. It will heal you. Seriously. Do it!
My whole life, I've despised the color pink, except when it naturally occurs. And just as rose quartz, the cherry blossom pink looks just as soothing, just as healing as it's stone in the same hue. I love the pictures. And I really, really, really want to pat Jake's hiney.
Jake would love that, Julz!
My teacher used to tell us that pink is the color of your love for yourself. I didn't used to be a fan, but I really love it now. Not every shade of pink, but definitely cherry blossom pink, definitely!
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