One more PALS lost

Patty Blake passed away yesterday morning. She was a grandmother in her mid-60s. The good news is she died peacefully in her sleep. My thoughts are with her family and friends. I know she is at peace now. Her unshakeable faith was her rock. Her blog https://pattysoksofar.com always brought me to a better place in my thinking.

I have been grilling the hospice workers about how people die. The variation is tremendous. The difficulty is suppressing pain and anxiety enough to allow peaceful passing. I am so curious about the whole dying process. True morbid curiosity!!

The trees reflected in my electric fireplace screen are fully leafed out now. My friends have my garden, flower pots, and window box planted. I am surrounded by signs of life even while curious about death. And I have this lovely orchid to enjoy:

Thank you, Jade!

On Tuesday evening we attended Caroline's choir concert, the Rose Concert, where the seniors get saluted and give their parents or special relations roses. I started to cry, thinking that I won't be there when Caroline is a senior. Paul held my hand throughout, and I rationally know our mother-daughter bond doesn't need a public demonstration. Still, I love the ceremony. So afterward, what did my sweet, talented daughter do? She presented me with a rose! That took such thought and consideration. Thank you, Caroline!