The Storm

As I write to ya'll in this moment, I am greeted by an amazing spectacle of nature. There is a storm outside, and the world is weeping. Its tears are punctuated by hiccups of thunder, its eyes squeezed shut into tight slits of lightning. It roars and poars with an eerie disregard to the rest of the world. Storms discriminate against no one and no thing.

Many of us have found ourselves confronted by a storm. Many of us have danced with the storm, and many still have lived within the storm. It's easy to feel lost in its presence, to be afraid, to be consumed in its shadow. But we must always remember that storms end. Confusion, panic, pain, anxiety, aimlessness, everything is consumed by the rain. With the rain comes peace. The rain washes everything clean. The rain refreshes. The rain renews.

Lindsay fills my mind as I watch the rain fall. She loves the raw nature, the life all around. She takes joy in its simplest of pleasures. All sound is drowned out by the rain, except for the whispers. And even my deaf self can hear the whispers. Whispers from Lindsay, whispers from the universe, whispers from the energy all around us that we are blessed, we are not alone, and we are loved.

Enjoy your life, enjoy every single second and every breath, for tomorrow is a promise to no one. Be present at all times. Simply be. I know Lindsay does, and I know Lindsay is. Love.

Bags

Keeeepers

Like Helen, I spent a rare moment communing with nature this weekend. Molly and I went on an especially long run in suburban virginia on Saturday. The trail we took follows the historic W&O railroad tracks, and tucked among developments, highways, and office parks, it is a corridor of green, air buzzing with frogs, insects and birds; one birdsong in particular even reminded Molly of her yard in Chagrin. All along it, there are designated wildflower patches, "growth areas" to improve stream water quality and reduce erosion, old railroad tracks here and there and even a repurposed rail car. I spotted a hawk and couldn't help peering over a concrete barrier to look for fish in the stream. The thought of Lindsay loving this place followed me all morning, and I felt a certainty that it is in these many unexpected pockets all around us that her spirit has come to settle.

Grasshopper!

I visited the tree Wessel & I planted for Lindsay this morning-- and there was a little GRASSHOPPER on it! Now I knew they symbolized many wonderful, lucky things, but obviously I had to come home and do some research:

"A grasshopper's appearance indicates a time in which we will experience great leaps of happiness. It teaches us to trust our inner voice and to act upon it. The grasshopper can be an enlightening messenger of ingenuity, resourcefulness, joy and honor."

I think Lindsay is sending us all a message today-- one of happiness brought on by listening to our true voices and embracing all we can do. I miss you Lindsay-- thanks for the grasshopper messenger. I'll try to bring my camera next time so everyone can see how your tree is flourishing!

Love, Helen