Remembering with Smiles – Only the Good Friday

Yep, I’ve probably shown this pic before, but here it is again. After all, it is Only the Good Friday over at This Eclectic Life, Woohoo! This stands as my Only the Good for today. It is my mom and brother and me! A very very long time ago. Daddy took the picture on one of our trips across the bay on a ferry to Bahia Beach. I admit I do not remember those trips… but I remember the times I spent with my parents when I was a tad older, and boy, am I grateful!

What does this have to do with you? I just wanted to share that we can one day remember people we have lost without falling completely apart, without it bringing searing pain. There comes a time we are able to remember – and share – memories of those you have lost with a smile in our faces and hearts.

And, Not just the smiles that flash for a quick second, then turn to a sadness that bores holes in the warm safely of our souls; the smiles that go on and on and on without break — until some quiet moment or most inopportune place.

Yeah, after all these years, I have ‘touchy’ moments, sometimes so subtle I don’t recognize them.

Yeah, the loneliness and the sadness will smack you around for a second, even later, but it will be different – and much shorter lived. And honestly, in reality, do we REALLY want to insulate ourselves from feeling that grief 100%? “I’m just saying,” to quote Shelly’s expression.

Yet, I know no one who has recently lost someone wants us spouting, “It gets easier with time,” so, those of you in that situation, just let it slide into your subconscious, but ignore it outwardly. That’s OK.

Today, May 8, 2009, would have been Mom’s 89th celebration of her birthday, but she died years ago. But, hey, I still get to celebrate her birth out loud or in writing or in a whisper or just in my head. I have a feeling wherever her soul landed, she can feel my words.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you, and I am ever so grateful it was you and Daddy that raised Bill and I and not someone else! Now, just know we are OK, and go back to your golf game with Daddy — although the water is fine this time a year, too. (Hi, Daddy! What? You still don’t like the beach and would rather go golfing? Get over it, there are snow cones there, remember?)

Why not find the good in your day, your surroundings everyday? And why not share it with the world on Fridays. I bet we can light up the world with our good one Friday. I do, I bet we can!

And, you know what? If a few more of us would get off our duffs and get the Medicine Bags made, a certain group of kids in Texas and their families would be ligthting up the sky with their smiles in July. HINT HINT (to self, too!)