12/23/09

Tobacco’s sweet flavor
Is burnt in the air
As we savor hot chocolate
With travel-worn care

We’d sung in the evening
Old wayfaring tunes
Warm blankets around us
Now quiet resumes

Beside us, the coal fire
Blazes bright blue
When morning light breaks
Our adventure is through

So, silent and drowsy
We keep the fire fed
We keep the fire going
Though no words are said

And the heady aroma
Of black cherry tea
Will remind me in future
Of you here with me

The mountains we’d climbed
Were hard on our feet
Our boots are now dusty
The soles incomplete

We can’t quite be happy
Now nighttime has come
When dark turns to day
Our adventure is done

Black cherries, tobacco
Hot chocolate and tea
Small comfort, but comfort
For you and for me

It was early in the morning before the sun had risen, and peaceful. The previous afternoon there had been a prayer meeting with the hymns Terry had loved and everyone gathered around. It’s no surprise for those who knew her that she didn’t leave us until the quiet of the morning. She chose a time when she wouldn’t be the center of attention, because she had never been the focus of her own life. Her loved ones were her focus, right to the end. She was our center and source of love, and care, and compassion. The children of Wedgwood knew that, where she was the nursing supervisor. Her church knew that, where she ministered to the hurting. And her family knew that most of all. Two and a half years of cancer was a hard battle. She never complained. She was always cheerful. And most of all, she was full to overflowing with love and loving words.

http://terry.taitcha.net

I made it past 20,000 words! And I am so bloody far behind. Gah. Thankfully, today is the day before Thanksgiving Eve, so I\'ll soon be in Grand Rapids eating food other people have cooked, giving me more precious time to write. I\'m gonna make it to 50,000, but it\'s not going to be pretty. Wish me luck.

Current word count: 20,100

Sent to me today by one of my designer buddies. It's so true!