tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post3874574004926991777..comments2023-10-08T07:07:36.538-04:00Comments on Search the Sea: A Window into Grief: The Holidays, Round OneGannet Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374279595560691174noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-68304610196695447802008-11-21T12:27:00.000-05:002008-11-21T12:27:00.000-05:00When my mother died, I was 20. My sister and I aba...When my mother died, I was 20. My sister and I abandoned home for Disney World--no joke. It was the only place where Christmas could be so over-the-top, it wouldn't resemble what had been. And who can't feel just the tiniest bit of joy in the midst of all that gawdy splendor? So we did indeed light candles on our hotel balcony Christmas Eve and sang Silent Night. I wrote tearfully in my journal, but the next day we woke up and celebrated with all we had in us. And we received a gift... It will be hard to describe in short comment space, but we made a reservation at a Disney restaurant, not realizing it was set up as a "mom's kitchen" sort of place. When we walked in, the hostess said, "Oh, girls, you're here--Mom's been waiting for you!" HUH??? So we go to our table, and over comes our server. Her name? Phyllis. My mother's name--and not a common one at that. To this day, I get chills about Phyllis, the angel who served us Christmas dinner the year my mother died. Little did she know why we were weeping into our mashed potatoes. We thought we were going away to somehow get away from the memories, but amazing mother that she was (and still is), she followed us. May Chicago son go with you to wherever you decide, and may you greet him with the same sense of peace and celebration I felt.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04604631581219462834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-87028120883075939322008-11-20T19:15:00.000-05:002008-11-20T19:15:00.000-05:00I think you are very wise.I think you are very wise.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04107175348265816279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-29586934144795194992008-11-20T17:32:00.000-05:002008-11-20T17:32:00.000-05:00That reading from Iona is powerful... The desert o...That reading from Iona is powerful... The desert offers a different kind of Christmas-time...dry air, warm temps, barren land, cacti...? praying for a moment of peace...Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15667178624061122421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-82468852143551170782008-11-20T14:28:00.000-05:002008-11-20T14:28:00.000-05:00Although you can't flee Christmas, you can change ...Although you can't flee Christmas, you can change the context. I encourage your determination to do so in another place and way this year.<BR/><BR/>Blessings, GG.Jody Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08031378214797420014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-62817353359508941972008-11-20T10:15:00.000-05:002008-11-20T10:15:00.000-05:00come and spend the time with me...in my orthodox j...come and spend the time with me...in my orthodox jewish neighborhood (which i am not, as you know) you'd have no clue that xmas was going on anywhere. <BR/>a moment of peace each day sounds like a good plan. <BR/>beanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-82584277283613544692008-11-20T10:07:00.000-05:002008-11-20T10:07:00.000-05:00A moment of peace. Today and every day. And the ...A moment of peace. Today and every day. And the reading was hauntingly beautiful--even for a non-Christian like me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-33412492314252610012008-11-20T04:32:00.000-05:002008-11-20T04:32:00.000-05:00and we're here for you, whatever this, and the sea...and we're here for you, whatever this, and the seasons to come, brings. thanks for granting me the grace of your presence yesterday. <BR/><BR/>a moment peace every day. what a beautiful prayer for advent. may it be so.Sarah S-Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02839861820297123884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-13542709380032904802008-11-20T01:04:00.000-05:002008-11-20T01:04:00.000-05:00I really want to comment, but I can't come up with...I really want to comment, but I can't come up with what I want to say. Holidays just suck when you're grieving. They change, they get different, they get tolerable at some point... It takes time.<BR/><BR/>I hope Advent can have some meaning for you this year, my friend, wherever you are.Lisa :-]https://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-21020899980422078042008-11-20T00:04:00.000-05:002008-11-20T00:04:00.000-05:00Tears for and with you.Tears for and with you.Elaine (aka...Purple) https://www.blogger.com/profile/09439199680556347830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-24205992885475921072008-11-19T23:33:00.000-05:002008-11-19T23:33:00.000-05:00...for the moments of peace, prayers and grace....for the moments of peace, prayers and grace.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617476463347663364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-65008523931313179342008-11-19T23:15:00.000-05:002008-11-19T23:15:00.000-05:00So far, I've completely blocked thoughts of the ho...So far, I've completely blocked thoughts of the holidays from my mind. I see the commercials, and I can't absorb them. I see decorations up, and they surprise me. I know I need to think about what I'm going to do, but damn if I can.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641264346663533706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-6070015407390591642008-11-19T22:58:00.000-05:002008-11-19T22:58:00.000-05:00I will be thinking of you and praying that you get...I will be thinking of you and praying that you get that one moment of peace per day.Kathryn Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16757414380685368592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-40362636017360625562008-11-19T22:37:00.000-05:002008-11-19T22:37:00.000-05:00all I can say right now is ((((GG))))will be back....all I can say right now is ((((GG))))<BR/><BR/>will be back.Diane M. Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07749136181846671327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-26520829857806270882008-11-19T21:45:00.000-05:002008-11-19T21:45:00.000-05:00My prayers are with you. God is with you. May God'...My prayers are with you. God is with you. May God's love surround you in this difficult time.Joan Calvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858394238696729686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-78249601290039252012008-11-19T21:13:00.000-05:002008-11-19T21:13:00.000-05:00One daily moment of peace, coming into this darkne...One daily moment of peace, coming into this darkness...yes, an Advent gift...prayers for that for you.RevDrKatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06043193615563649333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-79298601683932739242008-11-19T20:54:00.000-05:002008-11-19T20:54:00.000-05:00It is hard not to notice, too, that the lectionary...It is hard not to notice, too, that the lectionary gospel readings are decidedly apocalyptic... they are about end time, Jesus' own end times and the world's end times.<BR/><BR/>Keeping you in prayer (((GG)))Magdalene6127https://www.blogger.com/profile/11036211735489393308noreply@blogger.com