The contentment of a day well spent with cool breezes, sunny skies and family. Of a day at last realized after a winter of pain, a welcomed respite even though it is charged with the memories of those not here.
I take joy, nonetheless, in the colors of nature, hair and skin and clothing; reveling in the smiles and the laughter all around; the earth with its flowers and I with my boys.
We planned this trip last October as Sam was getting ready to move to Dayton. We planned a summer family trek to bring him the rest of his stuff and go to Cedar Point. Philip, Sam and Joe had made a trek there a couple summers ago and this seemed a perfect opportunity to go again.
I decided to go ahead and honor Philip with the boys by keeping the plans.
For me, as with so much, it is a bittersweet delight to carry them out. For the boys there seems to be no element of regret or heartache.
The boys appear to see only joy filled memories. The ranch was full of him and now so is Ohio.
“Steel Vengeance was Dad’s favorite roller coaster” one says with fondness.” “That BBQ place was so much better last time with Dad.” ” Hey, remember that baseball field? You and Dad played while we waited for a hotel”; “With Dad, we all wanted real food so we found this Mexican Restaurant. It was great,” says another.
We are full of Philip, of course, but theirs extends beyond what they have lost and into fond gratitude for all they have kept. This fills some of my vacant places.
It is a lesson I would do well to practice.
Anne
July 3, 2021
Tripping with God: Stories of Faith and Inspiration 