Passages and Prayers

I'm going to officially welcome myself back to my blog. Although it is already January 19th, this feels more like the real start of the year, at least for me. There is no denying 2008 kicked every one's butt in some way. As with most things, only time will tell if the challenges of 2008 turn out to be the opportunities of 2009 and beyond. One thing is for certain though, I think I speak for most of us when I bid last year a fond farewell.

For me, last year ended on a sad note. My aunt Rosemary passed away on Christmas morning at my brother Patrick's house. Although she was having heart problems, we thought her new pacemaker would give her more time with us. We we wrong. Christmas was Rosemary's favorite holiday. She was a generous and loving Aunt who put a great deal of time and effort into her gift giving. She was my mother's older sister by ten years and was a stalwart and strong influence in all of our lives, throughout our lives. My mother said it best when she said, "I have never spent a Christmas without Rosemary." It may not seem like a big deal but in an age with change comes at us quickly, it was a comfort to know that Rosemary would always be there.

Our holiday together was definitely lower key than usual but instead of retreating into our old ways we did something we haven't done in a long time, we came together and laughed and shared our memories of holidays past and of Rosemary. My nieces crawled into our laps, held our hands and listened to our stories. We opened Rosemary's gifts and kept her with us throughout the day. In a way it was the best Christmas we have had in a long time. And I might add a fitting tribute to Rosemary.

At New Year's we all came together in Pittsburgh for the funeral and again, felt the impact of time and the passing of our last extended family member. Each of us contributed in some way to her send off and my mother arranged a beautiful service in the church Rosemary attended throughout her life. It was hard not to feel her presence and love that day.

I traveled home on New Year's day and tried to get back to the business of every day life, there are things to do, projects to finish, goals to accomplish. Time waits for no man? Isn't that what they say?

Yesterday, I let time go without me for a little while and just sat in my chair an let the sun warm my face and thought of how lucky I was to have been loved by Rosemary.

Safe travels Rory.