Remembering those we have loved

 These beautiful kangaroo paws are flowering in my garden right now in time for Christmas, and I am reminded to take time to see and experience the beauty around us and the joy we can gain from simple things. 

I wish all my dear blogging friends a lovely Christmas season spent in the company of those they love.  Thank you so much for your support this year and for taking the time to stop by and say hi. I really appreciate every one of you. 

It is now just over twelve months in September since my darling father passed away, and coming up to 12 months on 26 December when my dear mother-in-law passed away. I can hardly believe it has been twelve months. It seems like only yesterday when we watched them slip away. I think of them often and about those final days. 

Mourambine church, Western Australia

I have just finished reading "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George. (2013 Published in Great Britain by Abacus) It is a delightful story about Jean Perdu who runs a bookshop, or a 'literary apothecary' on a restored barge on the Seine in Paris. He has been nursing a broken heart for over 21 years. Events lead him to unmoor his barge and set off down the Seine to Provence in search of his past and his beloved. 

I won't tell you more, as you should read it for yourselves. But I wanted to share this passage from the book, which in a way brought me comfort. If you have lost someone this past year I hope it will bring you comfort too. I have always felt when I visit the graves of my parents that they are not there.  Have you ever felt like that?  I feel closer to them when I walk the fields of their childhood.

In the end I'm only going next door. 
To the end of the corridor, into my favourite room. 
And from there, out into the garden. And there I will become light and go wherever I want.
I sit out there sometimes in the evening, and look at the house we lived in together.
I see you roaming through some rooms.....
You're searching for me.
I'm no longer in the sealed rooms, of course.
Look at me! Out here.
Raise your eyes, I'm here!
Think of me and call my name!
None of this is any less real because I am gone.
Death doesn't matter.
It makes no difference to life.
We will always remain what we were to one another. 

I wrote the poem below just before last Christmas and thought I would share with you again today. I give it to those of you who may have lost a loved one this past year.

A beautiful song - The Spirit of Christmas Past from Enya

The Ghosts of Christmas Past. 

 Christmas comes but once a year
It brings with it joys and tears

As I go through the motions of gift buying, decorations and planning menus..... 
I am thinking of those who will be missing from my table  for the first time this year
They are the ghosts of Christmas past

My father hanging Christmas lights in the pine trees at our front gate

The carol singers under our corner street light
I lay in bed wondering how Father Christmas could possibly come down

our kitchen chimney and through the little doors at the front of our Metters wood Stove.  
But he did – because the carrots and cake were gone in the morning.

The excitement of seeing my new big doll Lucy under the Christmas tree
My mother dishing up the Christmas pudding with the threepences hidden inside  
Her Christmas carols that filled the house.
The long Christmas table at my Aunts With aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents And silly hats

 Summer heat and laughter,  

Playing under the sprinkler on the back lawn,  
And laying on the cool passage lino with a new book
The simple pleasure of humid summer evenings on the back lawn
     looking up at the stars. 

As I hang the special Christmas baubles on my tree

And light the candle of remembrance I look into the eyes of my grandchildren
And I see the ghosts of Christmas past

Jill Harrison
2 December 2014

 And a video of Eva Cassidy singing the beautiful - Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  
This is such a beautiful rendition - it always brings me tears as I remember. 

I wish you peace, contentment and happiness this Christmas season, to those who celebrate, and to those who follow another faith. Let us all remember we are all one people. 

 Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Lifestyle Fifty Monday Linkup 
Our World Tuesday
Through My Lens 
Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Worth Casing Wednesday
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday
The Weekly Postcard

 
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