August 16, 2002

"Internet Access In Heaven?"

This is a crop of the flowers I was given by my workshop's owners 'in sympathy'...

For some reason, I find the decayed version of that pink flower interesting, as well ...

I'm not sure what that says of me. Maybe it's just my weird artist's perspective, the fascination with the wispy form, absent of its meaning.

Today has been a good day. I had a surprising spate of 'easy' hems at work today, and they were done quickly. In the afternoon, a sense of optimism came over me. I sensed Julia will get a job soon. It's not 'logical', but I've come to have SOME confidence in these feelings. I trust this one is not false.

There is at least ONE thing to recommend my optimism: Julia told me, upon picking me up from work today, that, indeed, she at least has an interview for a job that appears to be permanent and fulltime.

Also, I had another amusing thought at work. Oh, I know such things are most likely completely illusionary, but a fun thought it was, anyway. ''I wonder if there's INTERNET ACCESS in heaven? I hope Laura remembers the URL to my journal. She'll read it from there, won't she?''

Well, in my rarely humble opinion, it wouldn't be much of a heaven WITHOUT internet access. Harp playing and hosanna-ing WOULD get OLD, after awhile!

August 17, 2002 - A

"A Good And True Reminder"

While readying the pages of the Memorial, I was hunting for a particular journal entry to which I wanted to link. As I scrolled and scanned the old pages, I came across a poem I'd written June 23, 2001, To Light The Way. Its hopeful words brought tears to my eyes, and I'd like to repeat it here:

To Light The Way Where were you at the beginning of hope?   Were you standing on the bridge? Were you waiting for a sign? You were waiting, holding a reminder that things are not always lost. Clutching it tight, you smile. Hope is not always lost. What is in your hands is a good and true reminder. Clutch it tight and smile. And smile in the darkness to dawn. Now start on that bridge, it will take you from here to there, 'one step at a time', true enough at that. Glows, that bit of hope, fine piece of radiance. It need not be large to light the way. JAL, 6 - 23 - 2001

August 17, 2002 - B

"Larger Than Life"

One of the contributers to our Memorial spoke of Laura's quality of being 'larger than life'.

This certainly was true, on a physical scale, as well as on the scale of personality. Laura's hands were particularily her largest feature.

It was early in our relationship that I noticed this and wrote of it:

6:30 AM April 7, 1987 Last Sunday, April 5th was very special. I said to Laura, ''Let's go to Service Merchandise and check out the wedding rings we saw in their catalog.'' So we did! Gratefully, they called the Irish Claddaugh ring 'friendship rings'. I was very nervous at this solemn event. I told the saleslady we'd think about them and be back. Laura and I walked about eight feet away and she said to me, ``If you really want those rings, why don't we get them?'' We walked back and told the saleslady we'd decided to get them. Laura's hand is so large that curiously the largest 'men's' ring only fit her pinkie.

a mighty big ring to fill!