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Thursday, February 17, 2011

There's an Amoeba in My Soup


Today we buried the last man of our parents’ generation in my mother’s immediate family. I looked at my oldest male cousins as we mingled and talked with each other when the ceremony was finished. In a couple of years they will hit retirement age. They’re the patriarchs now and both are good men. They treasure the old photographs and stories, and both in separate ways are creating archives. But I don’t think either one of them would like to assume the role of patriarch.

I would like my grandparents and my parents to be alive still so no one has to change roles in the family. I don’t enjoy feeling like an amoeba swimming in unfamiliar soup.

But life is a series of changes, isn’t it? It’s a series of necessary interludes, like winter, like the gathering forces of early spring, the fruiting of summer, the harvest in the fall. The cycle exists for the good of all.
This is the hymn sung at my Unc's service, one of my all-time favorites.


I Come To The Garden Alone




17 comments:

Elisabeth said...

A glorious hymn in honour of the changes you describe. Thank you.

Karen said...

Life is a series of changes and adaptations. Not always an easy road to travel. Your song makes me sad, because it will be one of the songs played at my father's funeral. It's his favorite. He is 86 years old. Time is taking us down a hard road.

Magpie said...

So, sorry for your loss. My Grandma used to sing this hymn to me...I love it.

Brian Miller said...

thinking of you today...i like that hymn as well...

The Bug said...

My Mom was the hub of our family - and of her brothers' families. When we lost her almost 6 years ago we all spun off into the ether & I don't think we've made it back yet. It really does suck :)

I LOVE that song - I assume you've posted a video? I can't get those at work, but I know that's one of my favorite songs - "...and he walks with me & he talks with me..."

erin said...

I get the image of a long line of people and we pass one another hand to hand, like we are handing things to one another, or helpding one another climb, or like we are rungs on the ladder, always passing one another to the next step. There is a brook nearby and there are egg salad sandwiches, and sometimes we are aware of the seasons, and sometimes we are not, but we are steady through it nonetheless.

love to you, Chris
xo
erin

steveroni said...

All about change (and gratitude?--grin!)...as you express it so well, alluding to the same attributes of nature, the seasons, etc. Good. I'll have to come here more often!

BTW, with the beautiful header of 'look-at-the-valley-below' I had fallen in love. But this new header of yours is AWESOME! Thank you.
PEACE!

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

Amen

Enchanted Oak said...

Is anyone else having trouble with the YouTube video? I've never embedded one before. Maybe I've done something wrong.

And Erin's egg salad sandwiches? Please make mine a BLT.

Unknown said...

Beautiful hymn, it's amazing when we say goodbye to the last of a line...

It's amazing to realize we still have so many more steps in our lives...

the grief and the gratitude intermingle for awhile...

Much love
Dahalia Flower!

CiCi said...

Things are changing and you are wise to understand you and your cousins will be the next group of older generation family members.

crownring said...

For whatever reason, only a portion of the video is showing. However the music plays just fine.

So good to hear this song again....sigh.

Sorry for your loss, Chris. Hugs!

RNSANE said...

What a beautiful hymn. You've had yet another funeral! Sadnesses but I do hope happy times follow, dear Chris.

Nana Jo said...

So beautiful ...one of my favourite hymns, too. As a person who finds some kinds of change difficult, your post resonates with me.

Bless you.

e said...

I am so sorry for your loss, it seems you've had a rough few months. Wishing you peace, Chris.

Syd said...

I am sorry Chris that the old generation has gone. It is the same with me. I am the last one left in my small family. After so many generations, it comes down to me. I don't think about that often but it is what it is. I will deal with it. Take care.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your loss.

This was such a lovely hymn and so lovingly rendered too. Thank you for sharing it.

Much love. - G