Mother’s Day

It is Mother’s Day and as I sit and read all of the beautiful tributes to mom’s on Facebook this morning, I also see just how many of us are missing our mother’s today. On my way to church this morning, I was talking to myself….like I often do, and I asked my mom to let me know that she was thinking of me today too. I was hoping that I’d get a “sign” from her… maybe a song like the time I left the cemetery after visiting her.

My two minute ride to church didn’t really give me an opportunity for that though but while I was sitting in my pew at mass, right before the homily, I looked down and there was a penny. Laying by my foot. “Pennies From Heaven” crossed my mom. I picked it up and held it through the Mother’s Day Blessing. I know…crazy me, always looking for signs. I know they are out there and whether or not they really mean anything, at least for me, they give me comfort.

I guess that although the pain and grief lessens all of the time, we never, ever stop missing our loved ones so these signs are just ways for me to remember.

Over the last year, I began following the story about a little girl named Lily. She was a first grader who was diagnosed with DIPG, an incurable brain tumor. Unfortunately she passed away about a month ago. Her mother shared a story on her facebook page this week. It is a great story to read on those days when we just wonder, “why………”

The Water Bug Story

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another, “One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she’s going?” Up, up, up it slowly went… Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return…

“That’s funny!” said one water bug to another… ” Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second… “Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third… No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.

Finally one of the water bugs gathered its friends together. “I have an idea. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.” “We promise” they said solemnly.

One spring day not long after the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water and fallen into the broad and free lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn’t believe what he saw. A startling change had come over his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings… The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from his new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself above the water.

He had become a dragonfly. Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere.

By and by the new dragonfly landed happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before.

Then the dragonfly remembered the promise. without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water…

“I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least I tried. But I can’t keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what has happened to me, and where I went.”

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air…

Everything’s a Coincidence

As I drove to get my rubber duck tattoo yesterday, I was still debating whether or not I should go through with it.  I knew how much I wanted it, I was just unsure of the placement and whether or not it should be in a place that would be visible to everyone.

I found Ali, the tattoo artist through my friend Judi, who referred me to her.  Judi and another friend have both gotten them done by Ali and with their recommendation I decided to contact her a few weeks ago.  I saw some of her amazing work and thought that my “cute little duck” would be quite minor or insignificant to her.  When I told Ali about it and why I chose a duck, she shared a story with me.  Her mother’s name was Ping.  Some of you might know that there is an old story titled, “Ping, the Little Yellow Duck” written by Marjorie Flack.  She told me that she had a tattoo of a duck in memory of her mom.  I felt like that was a “sign.”

It was about a forty-five minute drive to Somerville where I had it done.  As I put my purse down on the seat, I found a penny laying there.  I put it in my pocket and looked up to heaven and said, “thanks mom,” as if it was her giving me permission.  As I got off the highway and entered the town of Somerville, the song “Burn” came on the radio.  A song played over and over I know, but it was the song that was playing the day I left the cemetery last month, when across the screen of my car radio it read, “ELLIE,” (the name of the artist who sings it.)  Of course, I took it as another sign from mom.  As I drove through the center of town, the first intersection I came too was, “Davenport Street.”  This is the last name of my friend who was the inspiration behind my first tattoo!   Of course, I was looking for signs and all of these things would have happened whether I was searching for them or not.  It still made me feel good about my decision though.

Last night, Drew and I went to my dad’s house to help with the duck counting process for the “big race.”  I figured it was the perfect situation to tell him about the tattoo.  He wasn’t as upset as I thought he’d be. I am 44 years old, what could he really do!??!  It actually got us all talking about tattoos.  My sister wants to get one too.  Possibly a duck like mine, or maybe a green ribbon symbolizing Mitochondrial Disease to spread awareness of her son’s illness.

In the end, I am so happy I did it. I can look at it and remember mom.  Now, when others see it, if they knew her, they’ll think of her too.  If they didn’t know her, they can ask me about it and I will be able to share another great story about my tattoos.

Coincidence or Sign from Mom?

It has been awhile since I went to the cemetery to visit my mom.  During the week, I had been out shopping for some things at the pharmacy and saw a sweet, yellow, stuffed duck that reminded me of her.  Everyone knew who knew my mom knew that yellow ducks were her “thing!”  People in town even called her, “The Duck Lady” because she had such a connection.  Whenever I see a cute, little duck, I think of her.  Usually, I pass those ducks by but for some reason, I tossed this yellow duck into my shopping cart instead.  When I got home, I showed it to Drew and he told me we should bring it to grandma.

So yesterday, we went to the cemetery.  Just the two of us.  Although I never really liked the idea of being buried indoors, in a mausoleum, yesterday, in the pouring rain yesterday, it was nice to have a quiet, dry place to sit and visit.   Often, I don’t find myself comfortable in there, but yesterday, I know it sounds corny, but it seemed very peaceful.  Although he did not say so, I think Drew agreed because he asked if we could walk around.  We did and he commented on a lot of the crypts; the ages of some people who had died, their names, the years they were born…it was actually rather interesting.  On this gray, dreary day, as we looked down the long rows, the eternal light candles, were glowing in an almost soothing way.  I really can’t explain it…it was just a different experience than I have had there in the past.

We did not stay very long, maybe 20 minutes or so.  We left the building and ran to the car though the rain.  We jumped in and when I turned on the car, the radio was on and I happened to glance down and see this,

Ellie was my mom’s name.  Drew and I noticed it at the same time.  I know…it was just the first name of the woman singing the song, but…the two of us both caught our breath!  I took a photo with my phone and had to share it on Facebook.  It seemed to much of a coincidence.  What I do I know, is whether it was a sign, or just a coincidence, it gave Drew and me comfort seeing it.  Sharing this photo and story seems to have given a lot of others some sort of “sign” as well because after all of the comments and “likes” it has gotten on Facebook, I know that a lot of us thought of mom today.  Perhaps that is why we receive signs in the first place.  Just so we don’t forget.

instead, be comforted knowing that your loved one is around. – See more at: http://www.psychic-readings-guide.com/proof-of-life-after-death.html#sthash.aMcXTvBY.dpuf