Summer

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spring"><U>Spring</U></A></div> <div> <B>Summer</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Breath of Winter, and Sorrow is not Fore"><U>Breath of Winter, and Sorrow is not Forever - Love is.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holidays Seasons Reflected yeararound"><U>Holidays & Seasons Reflected year-around*</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Years Resolutions"><U>New Year's Resolutions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thoughts and Poetry"><U>Thoughts and Poetry</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thoughts and Reflections "><U>Thoughts and Reflections </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thoughts, Memories, and Expressions"><U>Thoughts, Memories, and Expressions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="forum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thoughts, Webrings, Yahoo Groups"><U>Thoughts, Webrings, & Yahoo Groups</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Expressions of Love Healing"><U>Art - Expressions of Love & Healing</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Songs Memories Music from the Heart"><U>Songs & Memories - Music from the Heart</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essays Experiences"><U>Essays & Experiences</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gardens and Plants"><U>Gardens and Plants</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Book review: Touching the Edge"><U>Book review:  "Touching the Edge"</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23c56400.gif" border=0 width="86" height="64" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U>home</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate Friends</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thoughts, Poetry, and Reflections"><U><B>Thoughts, Poetry, and Reflections</B></U></A></div> <div> Summer</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="4" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="513" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1104 WIDTH="247"><div> <B><U>July's Child</U></B></div> <div> The fireworks race toward Heaven, brilliant colors in the sky.  Their splendor ends in seconds on this evening in July.  "Her birthday is this Saturday," I whisper with a sigh.  She was born this month, she loved this month, and she chose this month to die.</div> <bR> <div> Like the bright and beautiful fireworks glowing briefly in the dark, they are gone too soon, and so was she...having been, and left her mark.  A glorious incandescent life, a catalyst, a spark.  Her being gently lit my path and softened all things dark.</div> <bR> <div> The July birth, the July death of my happy summmer child, marks a life too brief, that ended without rancor, without guile.  Like the fireworks that leave images on unprotected eyes, her lustrous life - engraved my heart - with love that never dies.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Sally Migliaccio</B></div> <div> <B>TCF - Babylon, NY</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>The End of Summer</U></B></div> <div> The branches dance as the gentle wind rustles through the leaves.  I listen for your name.  I do not hear it.</div> <bR> <div> The birds chirp and sing, as they fly to the feeders.  I listen for the melody that echoes your voice.  It is not there.</div> <bR> <div> The fluffy clouds float across the sky creating ever-changing pictures as they move.  I look for your name in the colors.  I do not see it.</div> <bR> <div> I sit quietly observant in this sylvan place.  I hear you.  I see you.  I fell you here in my heart.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Carol Silverman</B></div> <div> <B>TCF - Abington, PA</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Nostalgia</U></B></div> <div> As school bells ring, young voices sing.  And small ones shout with glee.</div> <div> The autumn air beckons school to start,</div> <div> And left alone am I.</div> <div> What makes me feel so down and blue and boggled down with thoughts of you?</div> <div> I see the school bus passing by, and find myself with a tear in my eye.</div> <div> Is it the clothes that we can't buy, wile others grab for jeans to try?</div> <div> Or is it autumn in the air that pulls at heartstrings - already bare?</div> <div> Maybe it's falling leaves and dying grass, bringing reflections like looking glass.</div> <div> Whatever the reason that stirs my heart, every year when school must start, reminds me how much I miss you.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Barbara Williams</B></div> <div> <B>TCF - Fort Wayne, IN</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="247"><div> <B><U>Summer Thought</U></B></div> <div> Summer's a time when things naturally slow down, a time when many are waiting for the orderly routine of their lives to begin again.  For those of us in grief, whose lives are already in limbo, it can seem endless, if we let it.  Seeing children, babies, and teenagers is not easy for us, and we see them everywhere from shipping centers to beaches.  Everyone is out living, loving, enjoying carefree activities with their children and we want to scream, "It's not fair!"  Recently, I was sitting on my patio one evening at dusk listening to the shouts of children playing, and I was crying, as I remembered the sounds that my child used to make.  I became very depressed, as I thought what a long summer this was going to be.</div> <bR> <div> In my reverie, I was reminded of a recent comment that I had heard at a TCF meeting:  "My child was such a loving, giving person.  He would not want me to waste my life being bitter."  I also remembered a good friend telling me to "count my blessings" and naming all the things I had to be grateful for.  I was furious at the time.  Nothing that I had to be grateful for could compensate me for the fact that my child was dead.</div> <bR> <div> Now, sitting in the twilight of this early summer evening, I began to see things differently.  I was determined that this summer would not be an eternity; I would not let it be.  I decided first of all to stay busy.  I know I can find plenty to do if I only take the time to look.  I am also going to try to enjoy the simple things that used to give me so much pleasure, like working in my garden with flowers.  I then decided to try to be truly grateful for the blessings that I have, like my husband, my surviving children, my job, friends, etc.</div> <bR> <div> It has been almost five years for me, and I know that last year this would not have worked.  Of course, I still have times of sadness.  I know I always will, but I have decided toat in the process of grieving, we close so many doors that the only way to recovery is to reopen them gradually at our own pace.</div> <bR> <div> I know I will never gbe the same person I was before the death of my child.  I hope eventually, in some ways, I will be a better person, because suffering can be beneficial, if we learn and grow throught it.  A year ago I didn't feel this way, and I know I still have a long way to go.  In the meantime, I know the greatest tribute to my child will be to enjoy this summer, as he would have done.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Libby Gonzalewz</B></div> <div> <B>TCF - Huntsville, AL</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U>home</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>