So, today is the seven-week anniversary day of my father's death. Seven...how fitting that I might begin a journey of sharing our stories on the seventh week anniversary since the number is a holy one, and the symbolism of numbers and events of the past weeks have emerged with tremendous holiness. This weekend, our family celebrated dad's life and death with a mass held in his name at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Rancho Cordova where my Uncle Walt is a deacon. The pastor at this church suggested to my uncle that we honor my father a second time, which apparently is an Irish tradition. Most of the songs were the same as what were sung at the funeral on August 29th, as were the readings, and my sister, two uncles and I reread our eulogies. We were surrounded by our extended family and parishioners from this church whom we did not know but who knew my aunt and uncle. I have been amazed at the grace of individuals sharing in our grieving, and particularly the grace of strangers whom we don't know and who my father had never met. Obviously, he is extending the message to others to share in our love of one another.
I have so much to share about the past few weeks, though the days themselves are so short and I have limited time to write. But, dad has been present with us since the day he left his physical body on that sad yet mysterious Sunday. I must also mention that there is a Chinese belief about the power of the number 49. What I just read is that it is the "ultimate (number) of existing things". There is something else to it which our friend, Dr. John Maa, has mentioned to us but I can't remember the exact significance. I will get back to you about that. But yesterday was the 49th day of his passing.
I will leave you with this thought to make sure to stop and pick up that penny that you might see on the ground. I used to pass them, thinking, "Oh, what good is it to pick up a silly penny." Now, whenever I find a penny, I know that dad has gracefully placed that there, and wants us to be OK, and remember him.
2 comments:
Thanks for the posting Julie, your dad was larger than life in a lot of ways, he touched so many people and had the gift of capturing the moment with a speech and making us all feel like we were one big family.
Yeah, Mel! Thanks for your sweet words and for reading my post. I am trying out this blogging-thing...it's actually kind of soothing to write down the events of the past few weeks. Keep checking in; I'm going to try and post often.
Much love to you and the fam!
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