My dear friend,
We exchanged emails last night – and now I’m without adequate words. This post will not do anything justice, and yet…I feel like there’s so much I want to say.
I’m sitting in my little office, surrounded by pictures of my family – parents who I miss daily, Andy, my boys who are now men, daughters-in-law, granddaughters. This is where I feel most comforted, most bewildered, most loved. I have one of your photographs framed here too. An abundance, truly. It can make my heart hurt. I whisper “thank you, thank you” throughout the day. I can think of no better mantra.
We’ve never met, yet I feel like we’ve known each other for years. How do I console you when I am literally across the ocean? How do I begin to articulate to you – a man of faith and family, deep love and incredible grace – that I have an ache deep within that exists with yours. How I pray for a miracle, even though I know that you and your wife have made peace with something I am railing against. Yours is one of those once in a lifetime loves – and though I believe it transcends time, I want you both to celebrate it together forever. Petulant, I know. Selfish, I agree – for this is not about me at all.
I pause to look once more at your magical new grandson, as he is held with some distractedness by his toddler sister. Her eyes are luminous, filled with some whimsy and a little mischief. You are literally in the midst of the alpha and the omega. One struggles with this most profound of extremes. Yet, you sent me peace last night. How can that be? In your deepest sorrow, you offered me gratitude for feeling the telepathic connection that has caused us to write each other out of the blue for a few years now. How can that be?
Cherished friend, I wish you peace. I am thankful that your faith is deep and your family surrounds you. I wish your beloved wife time…time to delight in your love and the love of her children. I wish she could stay. What can I say, I’ve never been one for small wishes when it comes to those I hold so close in my heart. Needless to say, I’ll check in again soon, perhaps with better words – though that’s unlikely. What can one say when there are no words? Only these random murmurings. Much love..xx
Waiting for the Karma Truck 
Beautiful words amidst the suffering of a lifetime of a distant friend.
Ahh, honey, such thoughtful reflections, words that I *know* communicate the power of your love and grace across the miles, for I feel myself on a daily basis. As you point out, in these situations words seem terribly inadequate, but to the degree they can serve as vehicles for the love and compassion in our hearts, they must suffice. Joining you in your sorrow and the feelings of love being telegraphed towards these dear individuals….
I know you share my thoughts, honey – for you are part of this triangle of friendship. Xox
Sending healing hugs to you Mimi and to your friend. I know how much we bond with cherished friendships even though we’ve never met in person. Your authentic self shines in your letter and I send prayers for healing to all. Thanks for being you xo
You are so very kind…and I appreciate your prayers and wishes on behalf of my friend. Thank you for your generous, tender words – you are a blessing.xx
You are a blessing as well Mimi! I loved the post as you expanded the prayers and loving thoughts for yourself and your friend. We are blessed and how wonderful that we realize it! xo
We are indeed ❤️
I could have sent these thoughts/words so many times. How is it that comfort and encouragement so often come to us from those we are trying to give to?
I don’t know, Carrie..I wish I could do more
I like to think the universe assigns us angels to help us through our darkest hours. Sometimes an angel can come to us from the most unexpected places. Just so happens in this case you both are one of each others angels, which is always a blessing. Keeping you all in my prayers, that peace may prevail over pain for us all. ღ
Hi Mark…I too believe that I have angels around me, and this friend is certainly one. If I can be close to that for him, then again, how fortunate am I. Thank you for your loving thoughts…m
May all the days of all of you be filled with blessings.
Thank you, Russ…
A beautiful heartfelt expression for your friend Mimi. Carrying gratitude and empathy within, is the gift we can give others and ourselves 💚💕🌈
Thank you…I send all to my friend and his family
Your words are just right, Mimi.
Ah Mark, I hope so…thank you..
❤
❤️
Moved. And LOVED the close: ” What can one say when there are no words? Only these random murmurings.”
Thank you, pal…thank you.
I find it incredible how we can form such bonds with people through our words. No doubt that these words will be comforting to your friend ❤
I hope so – would that I could do more…❤️
Your words are chosen with such empathy and understanding, They touch me deeply. Thank you for bringing this powerful feeling into being for us to experience together 💕
Thank you Val…I’m struggling with feeling so impotent, so incapable of offering much comfort. I hope my words touched my friends as deeply as I feel them.💗
Being there for them is often the only thing we can do. And it is enough 💕
💗🙏🏼
Here’s another piece of the triangle at the end of a long day full of presence and extraordinary light. I’m not sure which bit of our triangle – except to say that I’m the bit that knows that the other two bits are what enables me to be part of the triangle!
Oh, dear ones, if you could know how thankful we have been for you today. ‘… do more to help’ …?
I’ve said before: ‘tis the love that makes for our enough.’
Thank you, with all our hearts. And thank you to all and for all who have written hereunder too xx
If love is truly enough, then it is my wish that you and Jilly feel it all the way across the pond…xx
Wow! Quicker than Concorde xxx
😉💗
Just jumped online, as I needed a WordPress fix. Choosing to stop by a few blogs that have always amazed and moved me. Thus, being here. But you’re not, at least as far as I can tell. I miss your posts, Mimi, that so often tug at our heartstrings and invite us to both reflect and count our friendship blessings. I wish you love and light wherever you are; hopefully in close proximity to your family.
Eric, the universe graced me with your words, with timing that is more than serendipitous. To keep a tortuously long story short, I have been ill, and with a hip replacement on Tuesday, will hopefully begin long term healing. The journey here has been months in the making, and involved hospital trips and tests that consumed my time and enthusiasm – replaced with fear and anxiety.
Reading your words filled me with joy and delight – and I’ve been in short supply of late. Thank you with all my heart, thank you. I will be back soon, I hope and expect. With much love and gratitude, mimi
Serendipitous indeed, Mimi. I am saddened to learn of your being ill. However, I see a glint of promise in your hip replacement news. I had my left hip replaced on July 2nd. A much longer story shorter here, all went fabulously well. I, too, was filled with trepidation pre-surgery as there were high probability complications looming. In the final pre-op hours I simply let go and surrendered everything to my Creator. And He blessed me with a perfect surgery and prompt recovery. I’m having the right hip replaced on 1/21/19!
And… I depart in two weeks for Safari in a Kenya.
Sorry, I didn’t want to make this about me. What I do want though is to extend the offer to reach out to me post-surgery. I have both positive and humorous perspectives that I’d be more than happy to share with you. I even have leftover Oxycodone, as I weaned myself off that stuff pretty quickly. 🤪
Please stay strong and be okay with shedding some of your anxiety. Besides, what purpose does worrying serve? Much love returned.
Ironically, my right hip will follow as soon as recovery on my left is complete. Knees are in this too somewhere. And I anticipate having some Oxycodone to voluntarily and happily surrender.
I promise to stay strong and try to shed the big fears – will you spare some love and/or good healing thoughts on Tuesday? Thank you for checking in – and for being such a wonderful source of light and friendship. Have a magical time in Kenya – how fantastic! 😊
Prayers sent on Monday night and on Tuesday. I suspect you’re presently in a drug-induced state of rest, which is good. I don’t anticipate your reading or replying to WP posts. Simply wanted you to know that love and healing light ✨envelopes you. Now, get up and do some walking. 😉
Hi Eric – your thoughts have given me light and hope on a dreary day. My surgery has been delayed until Friday or early next week. I developed an infection which showed up in one of the pre-op tests, so I am on antibiotics and hope. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated more than words can say. 😊
Hi Mimi. It’s been a month. I didn’t want to disrupt your recovery thus, silence at this end. I am hopeful you have encouraging news to share as your recover with a new hip! Time permitting, it would be good to hear from you. I trust you had a blessed Hanukkah. Peace and strength your way.
Hi Eric, I can’t begin to thank you enough for keeping me in your thoughts. I am very grateful and very blessed. I’m getting better, though I still have a way to go. They ended up replacing both hips during two operations – not what we had anticipated, but became unavoidable as soon as they x-rayed both hips during the first operation. So, a bit of a curveball, but not one that would strike me out.
I’m home now, with physical therapy three times a week. I’ve graduated to a cane and hope to be driving again in the new year. My walks are increasing in length; arguably they don’t yet qualify as walks, for I am first able to walk to the end of the block! But, every journey begins with a step, right?
Enough about me – how are you? Where is your wandering spirit taking you next? Are you home for the holidays? I hope this message finds you well and happy, warmed by the best of this season. With gratitude always, m
Warmed and comforted to learn that you are making gradual progress, Mimi. And to your comment, indeed, every journey begins with a step. Even baby steps (often) reflect forward progress. So you are officially now part bionic woman. Bravo! I believe you will find that recovery is much about mind-set and that we heal, physically, in amazing fashion. We simply don’t see this as we are experiencing it first hand.
Have safely returned from a beautiful Kenyan Safari with some family. Will be heading to South Florida this weekend to share holiday joy with other family members. Whence I return, it’ll only be a couple of weeks before ‘the other’ hip is replaced. Thereafter, who knows where the winds may blow my body and spirit.
I will continue to keep your health and wellness in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there, kiddo, the best is yet to come. 🙂
Thank you for friendship and a smile that remains since reading your note. Bionic indeed for my back is largely fused as well. I realize that I must sound like I have purchased all the titanium available and had it installed in my body – however, other than the scar that resembles a zipper, most would never know…😉
And now the focus is on you my friend…I can’t imagine how fantastic the safari must have been, and hope the time with your family warms your heart and delights your spirit. With your soul filled with that love you will coast through your surgery buoyed with the knowledge that many are sending only good thoughts and prayers. Rest assured, I certainly will be. May I ask what the date is of your surgery?
I’m off to bake some cookies and other unnecessary carbs for our neighbors – no wonder holidays are a time for weight gain!
Here’s to the new year my friend – we are clearly going to be the hippest people around (pun intended) 😊
Hi Eric, Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. Have you had your surgery yet and if so, I’m hoping your recovery is going well and with relative ease. Given your indomitable spirit and heart, it seems only right that you should be planning your next adventure soon.
Yikes! I missed your 12/20 note. Might have been due to flying out for the Christmas holiday. Please pardon the oversight. I’m glad you prompted me in the above (1/3) comment. So, hey, what’s a little zipper scar? If you are truly hip, that may just be the new tattoo. 🙂 I trust (and know) your neighbors appreciated home baked cookies. That was most thoughtful of you. And what is this “weight gain” you speak of? This coming from one of the few people on our planet who cannot gain an ounce. Ever. Anyway, I truly hope you are continuing to heal and that you are experiencing progress toward restored wellness. You are deserving. Now it’s my turn for more of that titanium. Thanks for leaving some. 🙂 Surgery is schedule for the 21st. We’ll see if all systems are a go at my 1/10 pre-op appointment. Recovery from the first replacement went amazingly well until I tripped and fell on a concrete sidewalk on 12/23. Could have fractured the ‘bad’ hip for all I know. It’s all painful but we learn how to manage that and shift forward into our new bodies. Right? Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, Mimi. Please consider them abundantly reciprocated.
Hi – thought I should check in and see how the surgery went and how you’re feeling a short few days post-op. I’m hoping you’re well and without pain, that the discomfort abates quickly and you’ll be up and around with little compromise..Sending only good thoughts, m
This might sound familiar. Surgery was rescheduled due to a foot wound (had an outdoors fall on 12/23) that is taking its sweet time to heal. At the 1/10 pre-op the surgeon didn’t like its looks and prudently, viewing it as a potential infection portal. Ergo, 3/1 is now the date. How many people do we know who honestly say: I can’t wait for this surgery? Truthfully, this is exactly what I am thinking/wishing. Thank you so much for your warm, well wishes. Equally important, how are you rebounding? Healing thoughts your way, Mimi. 🤗🤗
I’m doing well, thankfully. Almost off the cane and gaining strength day by day. I am so sorry that your surgery was postponed – and sorrier still that your injury is the reason. Sending only good, healing thoughts your way and the wish that you be free of any discomfort at all. I completely understand how eager you are to have this behind you!! Come on March! 😊🤞
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SHE IS THERE, IF ONLY IN SPIRIT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!
Beautifully spoken – so full of humanity and compassion, and I’m sure, of deep comfort to your friend.
Thank you, Don – I truly hope so…