In April I was diagnosed with an aggressive, invasive cancer. I immediately went into a treatment protocol of daily radiation and chemo for 3 months. My husband drove me daily to the hospital 2.5 hours each way. As the treatment progressed I became increasingly sick. Too sick to walk or dress myself. I am now done treatment and recovering from it. The only memory I have is the comfort of silence in the car ride. I was too weak to speak, but my husband never expected me to. We sat in silence and that is my fondest memory of the whole experience. When I look back I can only remember lots of people in motion and the kindness of the medical team grabbing my hand to show me I was not alone. Sometimes I think our memories come back in stages when we are strong enough to process them. Love you Suleika for sharing your journey.
Memories coming back in stages when we’re strong enough to process them is how I’ve been experiencing the past few weeks. My nervous system finally feels safe enough to grieve, and with that has come a wave of memories. Thanks for putting words to that experience.
So great. Thank you, Debra. You’re prescient. Thomas Moore, of Care if the Soul, is coming out with a book in the Spring titled The Eloquence of Silence. God bless.
Susan, for Advent I am reading Thomas’s little book, The Soul of Christmas, which sheds light on the place of Angels in our lives. At 4, he was out in a boat with his grandfather. Strong winds came up and their boat capsized. His grandfather struggled to hold him up above the water as he struggled to keep himself afloat. Persons in a passing boat managed to pick them up. Two hours’ work failed to revive his grandfather. Thomas writes, “Angels often appear out of nowhere at just the right time. It was my grandfather’s fate, God’s will, that his life end and mine in a way resurrect. Angels do the will of God and serve a person’s destiny.”
I’m eager to read his chapter, Santa, The Holy One, where he reminds us Santa is St. Nicholas, not just a goblin, but a saint. He asks, “What if we treated him like a saint as much as a gnome?”
What a lovely prompt - it's like going through a box of old photos. We hold mountains of memories and it's remarkable how they can conjure actual physical sensations - one that comes to mind is when my husband and I were just dating, we were leaving a restaurant holding hands and two young boys were playing outside and saw us. One shouted, "can we come to your wedding" - we laughed and I remember the feeling of that as well as his hand in mine, ( I miss that). I lost him this year after 32 years of marriage. That moment was so early on - sweet and easy and weightless. I can feel what it was like to be young and in love. Delicious.
You inspired me with beautiful you on the warm spring day walk with Jon; wrap dress being tossed about in a breeze - dribbling a basketball. If that didn't kick start some soft, sublime images, nothing could. ❤️ Thank you thank you.
This is so meaningful this morning. Last Monday my routine hip replacement was just that, a fabulous success followed by a four day unplanned hospital stay to address every post-op complication possible. These were all new to me, uncharted previously in my extensive history of joint surgeries, broken bones, autoimmune diseases.
Now home with months of rehab ahead of me I cherish the positive memories of the compassionate care I received from a medical team with the sole objective of providing comfort and pulling out of the dark void. Piles of thick, heated flannel sheets. Flowers on each meal’s table. What flavor of Gatorade will cheer you up? How about a banana split? Long after recover I will cherish these little moments gifted to me, a stranger-client whimpering in pain in a hospital bed, totally helpless.
It is 2007. I had quit my high-paying job in Silicon Valley to work as an intern on a lion conservation project in the African bush. I lived in spartan conditions for about 3 months. It was the most magical time. Delicious memories include waking up in the middle of the night and hearing lions roaring. And sitting and observing the lions for hours, feeling I was in the presence of God.
A simple decision leads to a month of magic. In 2015 I read “Children of the Stone”. An amazing, truly inspiring story. I was so touched by this story that I emailed a “Bravo, congratulations” message to what came of this story, Al Kamandjati, a school of music for children, and which continues to this day. This led to an unexpected invitation to be part of a sacred music festival in Palestine. It also was an invitation to put aside personal fears for safety, led to a vow that I wouldn’t engage in any conversations about history, politics, or religion; led to a vow to follow the musical muse and surrender to this experience. What unfolded was a series of “magical meetings with everyday people”. A magic made up of simple human gestures of generosity and delight; memories for a lifetime. Best, David 🏮
Bergdorf’s, Tiffany’s, Lord & Taylor’s, Rockefeller center’s Christmas windows and on down to Saks’ and more on Robert’s arm and glow, Christmas 1983 or ‘84 - god I loved that man and my life in New York City with him. Now I’m on Memory Lane. Creating a montage appears to be the order of the day. The blessings of early Sunday mornings with Suleika and, today, Jessie Creel. (EST)
I enjoy the collection of memories from momentous to mundane. One I hold is my father allowing me to massage his feet. This was way back in 1975 when reflexology etc was not yet a common experience. How special at age 19 to give him a healing touch. Momentous and mundane. Thank you community you too are memory I now keep. And the song is Hallelujah.
I sobbed through this. Those who have been at the dark depths know that it is truly what many consider the simple where grandness and beauty reside. Thank you. I still have tears running down my face. This is one of those moments.
Graduating at age 52 from SUNY Empire college in NYC was amazing for a gal that hated school, and having my graduation party on the grass in Strawberry Fields in Central Park who had dedicated it by Yoko in honor of her love John Lennon. https://youtu.be/YkgkThdzX-8. (Imagine).
"We don’t have to contort ourselves to live some epic moment. What’s worth remembering is not on some mountaintop of experience. You don’t need special access to attain it. It’s a moment that, for whatever reason, meets you exactly where you are."
Thank you for this. So often I have thought that experiences need to be a mountaintop experiences to be remembered, thank you for the beautiful reminder... each moment makes up a chapter in our own beautiful story. Thank you for this and may you soon feel better! Wishing for you a beautiful holiday season with Jon and your family Sending love and well wishes.
Parents at the school where I was teaching, wanted me fired because I was pregnant and not married. The stress sent me into labor six weeks early. I drove myself to the hospital, knowing that doing so would keep me "in control". I was always "in control" on the outside, and on the inside, always a spiraling mess of anxiety. But this time, it wasn't just me I was doing this for, it was for my little girl. And then, it's like a Dream Sequence...the hooking up of the fetal monitor, the fluorescent lights, a few hours, pain, seeing pain, and then her little face...that little face at 5lbs. 4 oz. of lightness, love and all things possible. They took her from me to go right to the NICU-I have no memory of anything but holding a barf tray (it wasn't even a bucket-it was this plastic kidney-shaped thing) and being wheeled down to see her, to hold her, to feed her for the first time. "I'm your Mommy. Now, just so you know, I don't know what I'm doing, but I will always, always be there for you. We will figure this out." She looked up at me. I know she saw me... the little serious face of love. In our 21 years thus far, there have been moments of the sublime and moments I felt a sword was gutting my heart. I will always have the moment I first saw her and she saw me.
Wonderful prompt. I’ll carry this prompt going forward after I write my prompt. After high school I worked at a now extinct department store in Hartford Ct. ( G. Fox). G. Fox itself is a memory treasure hunt. I remember going to Santa’s Village as a child which was on the 11 or 13th floor. Flash forward to when I was working there and being on the floor looking down at the Civic Center after the roof collapsed. While working at G. Fox I also discovered one of my favorite book series “Angelique” by Anne Golon. The reason I bring this series up today is that when I saw this morning’s prompt I remembered that, as a child, Angelique used to have a box of treasures. I think I also used to have a box of childhood treasures. I still have the now empty box which is cedar and needs a new bottom. I wonder what this box used to contain. Probably shells, stones, feathers, coins, pictures, jewelry. I still collect findings on my walks. I keep old letters. Worthless tchotchkes I just can’t part with because they invoke a memory or are part of a person now passed.
Sometimes I sift through memories in my mind as a therapy. I acknowledge the the traumatic memories with kindness. This will sometimes lead to forgiveness and gratitude. And happy memories will emerge from the ashes of anguish.
My best memories usually involve animals. My first thought when I read Suleika’s prompt was the first time I rode a horse. It was joy and exhilaratinon! Or the sound of the wolves at the Wolf Hollow and Wolf Conservation Center. Holding a puppy or baby goat.
There is so much I could say on this. I see what you mean about a montage. One memory leads to another and another. I’ll use this prompt for my journal. Thank you for todays prompt.
“What’s worth remembering is not on some mountaintop of experience. You don’t need special access to attain it. It’s a moment that, for whatever reason, meets you exactly where you are.” This is so wise and important. Thank you for putting it so beautifully.
This past summer I went back to my home state to visit with my family after three years of not being with them. One sister of mine has been through a long list of health issues, including a massive stroke. Although we had been keeping in close touch I was uncertain about what it would be like to be with her since she struggles with the impacts of the stroke. When I think about the visit with my family in August one of my fondest recollections is an afternoon spent with this sister. A memory treasured from time with my sister was sitting with her on her front porch rocking together on her glider. I said to my sister, "This is so nice.", and she replied with the same as we continued to peacefully move rhythmically forward and back. Love in simple, yet deep, moments.
In April I was diagnosed with an aggressive, invasive cancer. I immediately went into a treatment protocol of daily radiation and chemo for 3 months. My husband drove me daily to the hospital 2.5 hours each way. As the treatment progressed I became increasingly sick. Too sick to walk or dress myself. I am now done treatment and recovering from it. The only memory I have is the comfort of silence in the car ride. I was too weak to speak, but my husband never expected me to. We sat in silence and that is my fondest memory of the whole experience. When I look back I can only remember lots of people in motion and the kindness of the medical team grabbing my hand to show me I was not alone. Sometimes I think our memories come back in stages when we are strong enough to process them. Love you Suleika for sharing your journey.
Thank you for sharing yours ♥️♥️
Memories coming back in stages when we’re strong enough to process them is how I’ve been experiencing the past few weeks. My nervous system finally feels safe enough to grieve, and with that has come a wave of memories. Thanks for putting words to that experience.
💛
So great. Thank you, Debra. You’re prescient. Thomas Moore, of Care if the Soul, is coming out with a book in the Spring titled The Eloquence of Silence. God bless.
Beautiful title for a book. I will look for it. Thanks for sharing.
Susan, for Advent I am reading Thomas’s little book, The Soul of Christmas, which sheds light on the place of Angels in our lives. At 4, he was out in a boat with his grandfather. Strong winds came up and their boat capsized. His grandfather struggled to hold him up above the water as he struggled to keep himself afloat. Persons in a passing boat managed to pick them up. Two hours’ work failed to revive his grandfather. Thomas writes, “Angels often appear out of nowhere at just the right time. It was my grandfather’s fate, God’s will, that his life end and mine in a way resurrect. Angels do the will of God and serve a person’s destiny.”
I’m eager to read his chapter, Santa, The Holy One, where he reminds us Santa is St. Nicholas, not just a goblin, but a saint. He asks, “What if we treated him like a saint as much as a gnome?”
Yes... Debra... sending love... memories of stages. Scenes of a life.. and sending blessings during this stage you are in today.
Thank you for your kindness!
❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤️
What a lovely prompt - it's like going through a box of old photos. We hold mountains of memories and it's remarkable how they can conjure actual physical sensations - one that comes to mind is when my husband and I were just dating, we were leaving a restaurant holding hands and two young boys were playing outside and saw us. One shouted, "can we come to your wedding" - we laughed and I remember the feeling of that as well as his hand in mine, ( I miss that). I lost him this year after 32 years of marriage. That moment was so early on - sweet and easy and weightless. I can feel what it was like to be young and in love. Delicious.
Gorgeous. Sending love ♥️
You inspired me with beautiful you on the warm spring day walk with Jon; wrap dress being tossed about in a breeze - dribbling a basketball. If that didn't kick start some soft, sublime images, nothing could. ❤️ Thank you thank you.
🫰🫰🫰
This is so meaningful this morning. Last Monday my routine hip replacement was just that, a fabulous success followed by a four day unplanned hospital stay to address every post-op complication possible. These were all new to me, uncharted previously in my extensive history of joint surgeries, broken bones, autoimmune diseases.
Now home with months of rehab ahead of me I cherish the positive memories of the compassionate care I received from a medical team with the sole objective of providing comfort and pulling out of the dark void. Piles of thick, heated flannel sheets. Flowers on each meal’s table. What flavor of Gatorade will cheer you up? How about a banana split? Long after recover I will cherish these little moments gifted to me, a stranger-client whimpering in pain in a hospital bed, totally helpless.
Those sheets sound heavenly! Hoping it’s a smoother recovery from here ♥️
Yes indeed, whenever you are getting treatment ask for the warmed flannel blankets. So comforting.
Hope you are healing and on the road to full recovery. ❤️🌻
Deborah... what flavor will cheer you... simple things. Sending thoughts your way.
Anything but purple but as a traditionalist original green is my favorite.
Dear Suleika
You sharing the intimate moment when Jon laid out your favorite fuzzy socks is so deeply touching.
What if the divine is revealed in the seemingly ordinary?
May you feel better.
With gratitude and admiration,
Divine in the ordinary—love that ♥️
It is 2007. I had quit my high-paying job in Silicon Valley to work as an intern on a lion conservation project in the African bush. I lived in spartan conditions for about 3 months. It was the most magical time. Delicious memories include waking up in the middle of the night and hearing lions roaring. And sitting and observing the lions for hours, feeling I was in the presence of God.
Surely you were in the presence of God.
Lovely 🔥🔥🔥
This sounds so wonderful.
A simple decision leads to a month of magic. In 2015 I read “Children of the Stone”. An amazing, truly inspiring story. I was so touched by this story that I emailed a “Bravo, congratulations” message to what came of this story, Al Kamandjati, a school of music for children, and which continues to this day. This led to an unexpected invitation to be part of a sacred music festival in Palestine. It also was an invitation to put aside personal fears for safety, led to a vow that I wouldn’t engage in any conversations about history, politics, or religion; led to a vow to follow the musical muse and surrender to this experience. What unfolded was a series of “magical meetings with everyday people”. A magic made up of simple human gestures of generosity and delight; memories for a lifetime. Best, David 🏮
♥️♥️
Bergdorf’s, Tiffany’s, Lord & Taylor’s, Rockefeller center’s Christmas windows and on down to Saks’ and more on Robert’s arm and glow, Christmas 1983 or ‘84 - god I loved that man and my life in New York City with him. Now I’m on Memory Lane. Creating a montage appears to be the order of the day. The blessings of early Sunday mornings with Suleika and, today, Jessie Creel. (EST)
I enjoy the collection of memories from momentous to mundane. One I hold is my father allowing me to massage his feet. This was way back in 1975 when reflexology etc was not yet a common experience. How special at age 19 to give him a healing touch. Momentous and mundane. Thank you community you too are memory I now keep. And the song is Hallelujah.
So moving—thank you for sharing ♥️
❤️❤️
I sobbed through this. Those who have been at the dark depths know that it is truly what many consider the simple where grandness and beauty reside. Thank you. I still have tears running down my face. This is one of those moments.
♥️♥️♥️
I cried too, and actually gasped at the bath and the socks!
Graduating at age 52 from SUNY Empire college in NYC was amazing for a gal that hated school, and having my graduation party on the grass in Strawberry Fields in Central Park who had dedicated it by Yoko in honor of her love John Lennon. https://youtu.be/YkgkThdzX-8. (Imagine).
"We don’t have to contort ourselves to live some epic moment. What’s worth remembering is not on some mountaintop of experience. You don’t need special access to attain it. It’s a moment that, for whatever reason, meets you exactly where you are."
Thank you for this. So often I have thought that experiences need to be a mountaintop experiences to be remembered, thank you for the beautiful reminder... each moment makes up a chapter in our own beautiful story. Thank you for this and may you soon feel better! Wishing for you a beautiful holiday season with Jon and your family Sending love and well wishes.
♥️♥️♥️
Parents at the school where I was teaching, wanted me fired because I was pregnant and not married. The stress sent me into labor six weeks early. I drove myself to the hospital, knowing that doing so would keep me "in control". I was always "in control" on the outside, and on the inside, always a spiraling mess of anxiety. But this time, it wasn't just me I was doing this for, it was for my little girl. And then, it's like a Dream Sequence...the hooking up of the fetal monitor, the fluorescent lights, a few hours, pain, seeing pain, and then her little face...that little face at 5lbs. 4 oz. of lightness, love and all things possible. They took her from me to go right to the NICU-I have no memory of anything but holding a barf tray (it wasn't even a bucket-it was this plastic kidney-shaped thing) and being wheeled down to see her, to hold her, to feed her for the first time. "I'm your Mommy. Now, just so you know, I don't know what I'm doing, but I will always, always be there for you. We will figure this out." She looked up at me. I know she saw me... the little serious face of love. In our 21 years thus far, there have been moments of the sublime and moments I felt a sword was gutting my heart. I will always have the moment I first saw her and she saw me.
Thank you for sharing this special memory. Your and your daughter are blessed in each other.❤️
She is the love of my life. Thank you! To see the world through her eyes, at each stage thus far in her life, opens mine time and time again.
❤️
🔥🔥🙌🙌
Wonderful prompt. I’ll carry this prompt going forward after I write my prompt. After high school I worked at a now extinct department store in Hartford Ct. ( G. Fox). G. Fox itself is a memory treasure hunt. I remember going to Santa’s Village as a child which was on the 11 or 13th floor. Flash forward to when I was working there and being on the floor looking down at the Civic Center after the roof collapsed. While working at G. Fox I also discovered one of my favorite book series “Angelique” by Anne Golon. The reason I bring this series up today is that when I saw this morning’s prompt I remembered that, as a child, Angelique used to have a box of treasures. I think I also used to have a box of childhood treasures. I still have the now empty box which is cedar and needs a new bottom. I wonder what this box used to contain. Probably shells, stones, feathers, coins, pictures, jewelry. I still collect findings on my walks. I keep old letters. Worthless tchotchkes I just can’t part with because they invoke a memory or are part of a person now passed.
Sometimes I sift through memories in my mind as a therapy. I acknowledge the the traumatic memories with kindness. This will sometimes lead to forgiveness and gratitude. And happy memories will emerge from the ashes of anguish.
My best memories usually involve animals. My first thought when I read Suleika’s prompt was the first time I rode a horse. It was joy and exhilaratinon! Or the sound of the wolves at the Wolf Hollow and Wolf Conservation Center. Holding a puppy or baby goat.
There is so much I could say on this. I see what you mean about a montage. One memory leads to another and another. I’ll use this prompt for my journal. Thank you for todays prompt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjKkdRwbAEs.
Memory-at North Jersey Playhouse, singing while cleaning the dressing rooms.
These Sunday wake up's are such a treat (EST)
♥️♥️
“What’s worth remembering is not on some mountaintop of experience. You don’t need special access to attain it. It’s a moment that, for whatever reason, meets you exactly where you are.” This is so wise and important. Thank you for putting it so beautifully.
This past summer I went back to my home state to visit with my family after three years of not being with them. One sister of mine has been through a long list of health issues, including a massive stroke. Although we had been keeping in close touch I was uncertain about what it would be like to be with her since she struggles with the impacts of the stroke. When I think about the visit with my family in August one of my fondest recollections is an afternoon spent with this sister. A memory treasured from time with my sister was sitting with her on her front porch rocking together on her glider. I said to my sister, "This is so nice.", and she replied with the same as we continued to peacefully move rhythmically forward and back. Love in simple, yet deep, moments.
❤️