Ethel Marie Shamoon Henry, married and Catholic, daughter of two and Situ to one, died age 89 of complications while agonizing over the last pages of her memoir. She couldn’t remember the details upon which she left her home at age 16, mentally or 17, physically? She never understood her life not turning out the way she dreamed – college educated, managing her own business, traveling the globe. Ethel was tired.
She was tired of this story. Tired of her life without the
education she longed for and the places she wanted to live and traveled after
she’d raised her own children, she was just tired!
Her REAL exhaustion came when she decided to prepare her own obituary and thought to herself – dang woman – haven’t you had enough?When will you begin living the life you wanted? Dreamed of? Longed for? Or, have you been all along, but just hadn’t noticed it in full? Give it up! Turn it over! Live this day the way you want – with whom you want – say what you mean – but, DON’T say it mean! Life is short! Remember, your last sunset. Your last words to those closest to you. The last color you saw. The last bird you heard. The last smile you smiled, The last laugh you laughed. The last prayer you uttered. Remember, smile, laugh and move on.
Move on to TODAY! Are you ready? She opened her eyes while lying peacefully in a down covered hammock next to her pond and waterfall oasis, gazed up at the clouds and said – Yes! It’s been a good life! A Full life! I have loved. I have been loved. I’ve colored, created art and captured. I’ve said what I wanted to say, traveled much, walked and hiked often. And I married a man who loved me until my dying breath. I’m ready.
Just then, her eyes closed again, and this time, she had a soft, childlike smile upon her face, the sun was setting in the west with a rainbow of colors like the one she’d seen so many years ago upon Max Patch. As she exhaled her last breath. Finally, Ethel was at peace and rest. – Amen.
Services will be held in the local Catholic Church with On Eagle’s Wings playing as she is escorted to the grave site of her beloved sister, Roxane. All are welcomed to visit now and again. Bring your favorite heart rock and share one with another. Dark chocolate and coffee to be served.
Where does love go when the light goes out? A question he asked once as a young man in his 60’s . He doesn’t remember asking these days. However, the question is a good one and has remained with me. How to answer this? Love is always present within every human being I believe. For some, a place in the dark could also represent a place of silence, loneliness, or the sound of mental chatter grinding away while one wishes for a lover’s embrace.
As a child, I recall needing two doors left wide open, and a nightlight on at all times in order to feel safe enough to close my eyes and attempt to go to sleep. Where was love in this dark twin bed on the third floor of Macon Avenue?
I’m often reminded that each day I have a choice to begin again – anew – to make amends where needed – that there’s so much to be grateful for – there’s always something to give back to people – the planet – that something is as simple as a smile – a thank you – it’s love in every form of kindness and respect to another human being, mother earth, animal, flower, tree, stream. Pick up trash, recycle, decrease use of plastic and anything else that will not decompose in a landfill – cook more – share what you have – care for self and loving self is NOT selfish. This year as in years past, I create a list of prayers and intentions for myself and those I love before the year ends, and at the stroke of midnight, I walk into the New Year of New beginnings with list in hand and a heart full of all that I would love to happen for myself, others, our planet, my community and the universe trusting that the God of my understanding hears me always and answers my requests in His time.
Quote shared: Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars.to change the world. — Harriett Tubman
I’m full of dreams, passions, compassion and art. Self-love, I’m only beginning to understand how necessary it is to fully love self in order to bring those dreams to fruition. As Harriett Tubman so beautifully states, Every dream begins with a dreamer.
