Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2008. Only five months before Mattie was diagnosed with cancer. That weekend, as we did on many weekends, went to visit Roosevelt Island. While crossing the bridge over to the Island, Mattie stopped to feed the ducks. It was a favorite past time for both of us. Mattie usually had crackers or bread in hand for just such moments!
Quote of the day: Every winner has scars. ~ Robert Nix
I spent the first part of the day working on Foundation items and then jumped into the car with the motivation to buy my friend Mary a bird feeder. Mary is my 85 year old friend who was just moved into her daughter's home. Mary has a beautiful window to look out of and it really serves as an ideal setting and location to feed the birds.
When Mattie was a toddler, we began to feed the birds in the winter time. It was wonderful for us. We spent a lot of time at home, and yet could look out the window, observe nature, the behavior of birds, classify birds, and truly become engaged with nature. Which is hard to do in the cold, grey winter months. The birds have been a refuge for me for years. After Mattie died, I truly needed the birds! The way I look at it..... we have been feeding the same sparrow population for years. We have troops of birds that visit us daily, and come back year to year. So much so, that I have to restock both of my feeders DAILY! That is how much seed they go through. I love watching them while I work by my desk! I can hear them fluttering about, squawking at each other, and chirping. It is my hope that I can bring some of this natural entertainment into Mary's world.
This afternoon I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Mary. Mary sleeps most of the time, but on occasion wakes up. When she wakes up she does look to see who is sitting with her. Mary is used to my presence, in the years past, it wasn't atypical for her to wake up and find me in her room. I am quite sure despite being unable to talk that Mary is very aware of her surroundings and who is with her. While feeding her ice cream, which to me is the food of champions, I was sitting on her bed and leaning over her. Though she is weak and not moving much, her finger managed to find my hand. She used her finger in such a way as to hold my hand and then decided to play with my charm bracelet. Mary and I both wear charm bracelets.
When I first met Mary five years ago, she told me about her charm bracelet. Back then she wasn't wearing the bracelet, but NOW she does. Her charms are special to her. She has one charm for her daughter and one for her son. After she described the bracelet and I saw her interest in it, I asked her where she kept it. She wasn't sure, but she gave me a general idea. After doing some searching, I found it in her assisted living room, and literally placed the bracelet on her wrist. She has been wearing it ever since I put it on her!
Like Mary's bracelet, my charm bracelet is special to me because it is a memory bracelet in honor of Mattie. We have talked about our bracelets before, so I was not at all surprised that Mary began playing with my charms today. Yet another thing we shared in common.
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