HELLO FROM THE MICHIGAN MOIRS!!!!!!!!

By The Way....................

In case any of you forgot why I was so special to my parents..............

Late As Usual

Always was late in wishing "Happy Birthdays" and the like: in any case, Happy Days to the greatest parents. Love and miss you both!

Birthday news for Mom

OMG!Just found out it's Errol Flynn's birthday too...nice company, Muvsie, oh, my first crush. I bet he'd have had a crush on you if you'd met in the 1950's! Que cutie! I wonder if you knew you shared a birthday....he'd be 101 today, born 1909.

Happy Father's Day, Dear Dad

Driving in my/your little red wagon, I think of you, Papa, as Wagner's Siegfried Idyll plays in the background. This music is so like you, noble and brave, and reminds me that of all the gifts we received from your striving, the care you took to give all of us an education reigns supreme. The gift that never stops giving...thank you, Dad! You are always loved and missed.

Happy Birthday Blessed Gus

Just think, you're 87! And using the twisted number theory of Terry and me, 8+7=15 and 1+5=6, so this means that you always have the fullness of love from 6 kids who wish you a most heavenly birthday...you are forever in our hearts, Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom

Yesterday, Maria led us in a prayer service to honor Grammie. She picked out some Bible verses which she read and we all shared our favorite memories of Grammie--chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, playing under the bed at Breckenridge, and mostly her boundless love. Grammie is in our thoughts and actions every day, but we are especially aware of her presence today. We miss her so much and love her even more.

Maria's Art Show

Maria just completed a one week art camp at Ursuline ArtSpace. The camp was called Imagination Works and I wanted you to see how her imagination works! The top image is a Swiss clock, the second a cathedral (complete with a deceased person in an open casket in front, made of an egg crate, wonder what that means!), third is her basket and lastly her pyramid. It's a great program and she really had a lot of fun.

When I think of Our Folks

Moments like these bring our parents closer, the sunny times mixed with the dark.....

My Way

After Dad died, I remember Mom reading Tom's eulogy and saying something like "I never realized my kids were so smart." Let me echo that sentiment---I never realized my brothers and sisters were so smart. I can write no poem nor eloquent tribute. My feelings reside inside, not unlike the lady we honor today. I did, however, place a windup toy (a crawling blonde baby girl) on the grave today:) Beautiful thoughts and words, siblings. You are all so smart and creative. Love you all!

Happy Birthday, Edward!

As this is a day of sorrow, so too is it a day of joy. On this day, Edward Cavalli was born, and if that hadn't happened, our lives would be much poorer. And since these lives will always be a mix of joy and sorrow, how fitting that on June 1 we have a very specific way to remember this. Thank you, Edward, for being being born, for loving Judith, for embracing our family, for witnessing our parents' lives and deaths, and just for being you. May much love and happiness always be yours.

Legacy

One day, two days, all of a sudden 365 days. On this day last December, Tom was able to do specific things to recreate and remember Dad's life. But our dear mother simply permeated each day with her spirit, no matter what the activity. I need to go to the grocery store today. I will honor her as I thank the produce guy for stocking the strange things I often buy, the plantains and mangoes and hot chiles. And when I check out, I will chat with the clerk about her day, connecting with her as a real person, just as Mom taught me. What incredible gifts she gave us. Though I thanked her many times, I so wish I could pick up the phone and say it one more time. I wish that I could sit across the table from her in the breakfast room and talk about nothing and everything. In short, I miss her. But she has left behind a legacy of love in all of us, in our tribe, our clan, our family. Thank you all for accepting and fulfilling this legacy. I love you all very much.

A Tribute

A June Day

Each day, this tapestry, this background grows.
Perceptible on the surface, even richer with distance.
You who sewed this life together from the threads and fabric given you,
You who treated all like loved children,
Who showed that kindness is possible in all acts,
That love is enduring and permeating.

As days are removed, so too can we reach forward,
Straining our necks to see and feel you,
Knowing that each day we are a small glimpse of you,
A fragment of your life, a piece of your attitude and strength,
Each of us a continuing and enfolding story,
But together, a completing puzzle.

An Anniversary

I Question the Bard

The sky poured out
an angry grief.
Waves of slashing rain,
thunder giving voice
to sharp unwelcome pain
when life and death collide.

Phone calls, check stubs,
pills and ointments,
papers, papers, more
sad appointments, all
at once are hushed and
finally brushed aside.

Practiced players
stride up on stage,
repeating lines still
fresh and barely aged.
The Danish prince's words
to we who must abide:

"The readiness is all."

Preparedness?
Futility!
What readiness could
blunt bald misery?
None, not now or ever,
oh none, I sadly sighed.

What say you, Mr. Shakespeare?

Our Willie's gone, perhaps no Shakespeare, but one who gamely played his part in this familial drama, in company with his lovely and loving maid Marian, who left us one long year ago today. May we who bear their authorial stamp be as brave and worthy of our roles, even now being sripted for us by Khayyam's Moving Finger, which Having Writ, will move on for us as well. Vaya con Dios, Carinos, y Hasta la Vista!