Friday Gratitude: Celebrating Life

Hi everyone! Happy September and happy weekend. Is anyone else caught between wanting to still wear flip-flops, yet throwing on that favorite cozy scarf?

As usual, this gratitude post is a mish-mash of recent highlights and inspiration. I’d love to hear what you’re grateful for too, if you’d like to share.

Friday Gratitude! [part fifteen!]

1. Death may not be the most cheerful topic, but this has a positive spin on it, I promise. I’m grateful to have been at my aunt’s memorial service over the weekend, to witness all those who loved her, and to learn more about what an incredible person she was.  I loved attending my great Aunt Helen’s memorial, despite the fact that I didn’t know her very well, because it was such a lovely, life-affirming service. Each of her children (my mother’s cousins) stood up and shared memories and stories about Aunt Helen. Some of them were sad and some made every single person in that standing-room-only church laugh. I felt privileged to witness such a touching tribute to a well-loved and loving woman.

After the  service, everyone gathered at Aunt Helen’s house, a home that’s been in my mother’s family for over a hundred years. It was such a pleasant Long Island evening, full of family members reconnecting, laughter, food and drink…in short, it felt like a celebration. How wonderful to gather after someone’s death and really feel that we were celebrating a life! I’d love to use that day as an example for the future- for myself or for others. Of course I don’t wish death on anyone I love, nor have I ever experienced losing someone close to me (I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that respect), but when the inevitable does happen, I can only hope I or my loved ones are remembered as well and as fondly as Aunt Helen was on Sunday.

2. I’m grateful for the flower arrangement Andy put together while I was at school and left on my desk.

 3. I’m grateful for the Nursing Club and the friendly second-year students who are so welcoming and willing to answer questions from nervous first-years like me. Intensive programs like this are pretty overwhelming at first, and it’s nice to know the students in their third year are approachable. Glad I went to the first club meeting today!

4. Spreading the blog love! I’m grateful for posts like this over on the SITS blog, and this one on Design Mom. Reading about finding joy and being gentle with ourselves is the kind of stuff I don’t feel guilty about when I should probably be reading textbooks instead 😉 

5.  Saugerties First Friday! I’m grateful for an even more enjoyable evening than usual in nearby Saugerties. The best part is that it was all free: art receptions, music performances, wine tastings, cupcakes, the requisite chocolate fountain, and of course we had to stop in to Rock Star Rodeo and try Banana Moon Baking Company‘s latest treats, peach tarts. Arlene picked and processed each peach herself- you cannot get homemade desserts more local or seasonal than these! I can’t even tell you when I last had a peach tart, pie, or crisp that was this delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness. Fantastic!

Speaking of food, I’ve been on a big coconut oatmeal chocolate chip cookie (possibly my favorite cookie recipe ever) kick this week, as well as a squash and basil waffle kick. Heart, cozy eating.

And finally, thank you to everyone for the warm feedback on last week’s Blogging Anniversary post! I love that I’ve made it this far, and it’s no exaggeration to say that I couldn’t have done it without all of you.

What are you grateful for right now? Does your town/city do a First Friday/Saturday event or something like it? Have you read anything inspiring lately online that you’d like to share?

 

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Seize from every moment its unique novelty, and do not prepare your joys.    –André Gide

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.  Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.  Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.  Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.  One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.      –Mary Jean Irion