Saturday, September 22, 2012Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009. Mattie's school counselor came to the hospital to visit him and gave him a present for his birthday. Mattie loved the singing hamster card and glorious butterfly balloon you see in this photo. I think we all fell in love with butterflies during Mattie's battle, and that love has only grown stronger since Mattie's death. As you look at this photo, I am reminded of all the decorating we did each time we were admitted to the Hospital. In Mattie's room it wasn't unusual to see things hanging from the ceiling, his IV pole, things attached to his walls, doors, and even his bed. It was certainly more cumbersome dragging these items with us back and forth from the hospital and home, but seeing non-medical things was vital for our mood and sanity, and I suspect it also enabled conversations between medical personnel and Mattie on certain days.
Quote of the day: The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises. ~ Leo Buscaglia
I began the day in a funk. I am not sure why, but there you have it. Peter and I sat outside on our deck for a while and had breakfast outside. While out there, Peter announced that today marked the 1110th day that Mattie has been gone from our lives. I count in weeks and Peter counts in days. As soon as Peter made that statement, literally a beautiful monarch butterfly flew over our heads. Almost on cue. I immediately asked Peter if he saw the butterfly and then told him I felt this was NO coincidence. Mattie was with us.
Buscaglia's quote intrigues me. I have to admit that if I smile at someone, that person usually smiles back at me. Almost as if smiling is contagious or perhaps we are conditioned that if we see a smile, something on an unconscious level takes over within us and we naturally smile. Have you ever noticed that when someone smiles this changes all aspects of a person's face and you have a better window into their eyes and feelings? Perhaps as Buscaglia indicates this is a spiritual exercise in which we smile to be further connected to those around us.
Peter and I walked on Roosevelt Island today. As we were crossing the bridge to get onto the Island, I couldn't help but laugh at this sight. Paddle boarding is quite popular on the Potomac River, but I have never seen a person doing this with a dog aboard. Not a small dog, but a big golden retriever. This dog was so peaceful, wasn't making a move, and seemed to be checking out all the sights going passed them!
During each walk we take on the Island, Peter always snaps a picture from this vantage point. Basically as the seasons change we watch how this scene gets transformed. 
I entitle this picture, "Mr. Mallard." I think this fellow caught my attention today because of his brilliantly orange webbed feet! He was looking at us, and we were looking at him. A mutual admiration. 
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