Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2007. If I had to entitle this photo something it would be, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH already!!!" As you can see Mattie was on the floor laughing and yet using his arm to hide his face from my camera. There were moments when Mattie couldn't take my need to capture a photo. That was just such a moment.
Quote of the day: There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, 'There now, hang on, you'll get over it.' Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer. ~ Barbara Kingsolver
The other day I received an email from a friend and colleague. She wanted me to know that she had a vivid dream and Mattie was in it. The dream wasn't your typical dream with a child in it! Instead my friend's dream involved Mattie conducting a research presentation with her. In fact, in the dream he was rehearsing his presentation with my friend and was determined to get his delivery just right. I asked my friend how old Mattie was in her dream? After all, most researchers are typically adults, especially if Mattie was co-presenting with my friend. Turns out Mattie was ONLY seven in her dream and yet she said he was "a pistol." He had spunk, determination, and could hold his own with the adults around him. I find all of this absolutely fascinating because my friend knows Mattie solely through the blog. She never met him in person. Yet despite not having direct knowledge of Mattie, she was able to capture his personality beautifully and in a way as I told her I don't believe in coincidence. To me, Mattie was sending me a message, through my friend. There would be no other reason for my friend to dream about Mattie, much less dream about him presenting research to an audience. I must admit that this dream leaves me in great reflection.
My friend's interpretation is that Mattie wants Peter and I to know he is proud of us. He is proud of the psychosocial research we are involved with on behalf of children with cancer. Maybe this is correct. As Mattie's art teacher at school always used to say, "Mattie is an old soul." Also true! This old soul was communicating to my friend and I am so grateful that she took the time to tell me. She could have easily kept the dream to herself, but I would have missed out on this wonderful Mattie sign. Post-Mattie's death, I look for signs in everything around me. Not that I sit and wait for them, but I am open to them in whatever form they come to me in. Even an email!!!
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