tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post4085455575467192208..comments2024-03-28T11:20:31.192-04:00Comments on Years That Answer: 8 years this weekColettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-29993915872625219152023-03-25T10:24:18.361-04:002023-03-25T10:24:18.361-04:00Thanks, Arleen. I miss your blog. I hope all is ...Thanks, Arleen. I miss your blog. I hope all is well for you and yours.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-25413366057633253082023-03-22T21:40:00.826-04:002023-03-22T21:40:00.826-04:00Dear Colette, this is Arleen, formerly of Starting...Dear Colette, this is Arleen, formerly of Starting Over, Accepting Changes-Maybe just dropping in. I am very sorry for your loss of your Mom. Reading that prayer was an act of love, no matter the words, no matter your beliefs. A promise made; A promise kept.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-54910257521681278302023-03-08T07:22:25.389-05:002023-03-08T07:22:25.389-05:00Thank you for that.Thank you for that.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-41123309613575813302023-03-08T07:22:00.553-05:002023-03-08T07:22:00.553-05:00It's true!It's true! Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-21303248214520460112023-03-07T17:17:13.118-05:002023-03-07T17:17:13.118-05:00Colette, your mum surely got what she justly deser...Colette, your mum surely got what she justly deserved, someone she knew who loved and cared for her who, in spite of being agnostic, was prepared to recite a prayer out loud for her.Share my Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817611851604816123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-38568929091004052972023-03-05T12:53:41.730-05:002023-03-05T12:53:41.730-05:00She asked you to read that particular prayer and y...She asked you to read that particular prayer and you did. Whether you're agnostic is neither here nor there.nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472673041193755894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-70402016957374802502023-03-03T14:46:15.172-05:002023-03-03T14:46:15.172-05:00Kind and loving act.Kind and loving act.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-48121275601071848732023-03-03T14:45:43.204-05:002023-03-03T14:45:43.204-05:00It is.It is.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-60842432281757563562023-03-03T12:46:17.180-05:002023-03-03T12:46:17.180-05:00I read my dad the 23rd Psalm as my dad lay comatos...I read my dad the 23rd Psalm as my dad lay comatose, in hopes that it would bring him some comfort, a man who never went to church but was afraid of going to hell for things he'd done in the war.Pixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01313413260127376288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-26722137813524212492023-03-03T09:49:27.283-05:002023-03-03T09:49:27.283-05:00You fulfilled her final request and that's the...You fulfilled her final request and that's the act of a loving daughter. It's good you could do that for her. It's a special memory for you.Ellen D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03776803182673252265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-41945630012822238472023-03-03T09:38:07.586-05:002023-03-03T09:38:07.586-05:00Being agnostic means you never have to say you bel...Being agnostic means you never have to say you believe for sure. Ha! I'm comfortable with that, because It's honestly how I feel. I just don't know. But she believed, and I was always one to play her game. Love is really something, isn't it?Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-2652760374419782572023-03-03T09:33:51.936-05:002023-03-03T09:33:51.936-05:00I'm happy you had that opportunity.I'm happy you had that opportunity. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-49352713728784709032023-03-03T09:31:49.284-05:002023-03-03T09:31:49.284-05:00It was good of you to let your sister have those l...It was good of you to let your sister have those last moments. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-38291721369173307112023-03-03T09:31:02.670-05:002023-03-03T09:31:02.670-05:00Thanks, Robin. Thanks, Robin. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-33065000775134983512023-03-03T09:30:18.136-05:002023-03-03T09:30:18.136-05:00Thank you!Thank you!Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-53432306352969222862023-03-03T03:26:35.990-05:002023-03-03T03:26:35.990-05:00Pat, my Hereford French teacher of about eight yea...Pat, my Hereford French teacher of about eight years, moved to a hospice when she was close to death. I asked her husband (a Quaker like Pat) if it was OK if I visited her there and he said yes it was. Later I discovered he had wanted me to speak at a Quaker meeting on her behalf but he discovered I had some vital appointment (I can't think what) and therefore never raised the subject with me. I'd have changed my diary if I could.<br /><br />Pat looked terribly fragile and was clearly drifting into and out of consciousness. I held her hand. I had just started my singing lessons and I knew Pat had once been a member of a choir. I made a joky suggestion that I sing to her and - with surprising asperity and clearness of voice - she said she didn't want that. I liked her for that, saying, in effect, she didn't want "any bloody amateurs" although she would never have said "bloody". She was the gentlest of women.<br /><br />I said how about I recited my late 96-year-old grandmother's favourite hymn (despite my atheism I have a remarkable memory for hymns). No response. So I went ahead, speaking quietly:<br /><br /><i>When I survey the wondrous cross,<br />On which the Prince of Glory died,<br />My richest gain I count but lost<br />And pour contempt on all my pride.</i><br /><br />and on for several verses.<br /><br />When I finished there was a pause, then in the tiniest of whispers, she said, "I liked that." For once in my life it seemed I had come close to acting gracefully.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-83113258995043739602023-03-03T00:48:43.336-05:002023-03-03T00:48:43.336-05:00She asked you so you were the right one. It did no...She asked you so you were the right one. It did not matter that you believed or not. She did.<br /><br />I believe in the power of love. Linda Devhttps://abovetheclouds619.blogspot.com/2023/03/its-good-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-16527330829953918232023-03-02T20:20:52.143-05:002023-03-02T20:20:52.143-05:00I've sat with two friends until they died. My ...I've sat with two friends until they died. My own mother and I said good-bye the night before, and I left the final vigil to my sister. She finally was ready to come to terms with her mother and didn't need me listening in. I was sorry on the one hand, but grateful on the other.Joanne Noragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16601010208310707750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-72388630677016360472023-03-02T18:11:40.081-05:002023-03-02T18:11:40.081-05:00What a beautiful act of love you did for your mom ...What a beautiful act of love you did for your mom after her last breath. If there is such a thing as an afterlife she will remember this always. NewRobin13https://newdharmabums.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-43587743170982593842023-03-02T16:45:34.198-05:002023-03-02T16:45:34.198-05:00You did the right thing. And I refuse to believe ...You did the right thing. And I refuse to believe your mom deserved better than you. There's no such thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-51253222293867817772023-03-02T15:56:06.437-05:002023-03-02T15:56:06.437-05:00That's a remarkable story about your mother-in...That's a remarkable story about your mother-in-law. Wow! I've also been deeply moved by your recent posts about your father. Death and dying is also a transcendent power, unto itself. There is a strange beauty to it. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-11124994742790176632023-03-02T15:44:17.099-05:002023-03-02T15:44:17.099-05:00Ah, then I'm in good company.Ah, then I'm in good company. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-14747223982000151452023-03-02T15:43:55.931-05:002023-03-02T15:43:55.931-05:00You are really such a kind person. Thank you for ...You are really such a kind person. Thank you for that. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-31844519199069831422023-03-02T14:44:36.457-05:002023-03-02T14:44:36.457-05:00Religious faith is such a power. What a very carin...Religious faith is such a power. What a very caring service you did for your mother, stepping out of your personal comfort in more than one way. <br />My wonderful very catholic mother in law had asked for her wrists to be slashed right after death and some in the family struggled with that thought and there was a bit of running around to get a doctor to do this but it was her wish. Sabinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09015827501648296977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-20904207062165183552023-03-02T14:31:34.186-05:002023-03-02T14:31:34.186-05:00As a fellow agnostic drama queen, let me just say,...As a fellow agnostic drama queen, let me just say, I'd have been as perplexed as you were.Steve Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.com