Saturday morning

So many strands converging.

My new grandson is due to be born tomorrow morning

Today is the 32nd yartzeit (anniversary of Jewish date) of my father's passing. My mother-in-law, Corinne, passed away from metastisized breast cancer a few years later within a few days of the same calendar date.

Ann F passed away this past week. Ann was our neighbor in Jackson Height, NY for many years. She found us the apartment we lived in. She helped furnish it with donations to the synagogue's thrift store and some of her own (we ate from her former dining room table for years). She watched over us. We celebrated Jewish holidays in her home with other families in our building. She yelled at the kids to stay off the grass she had planted in our building's little court yard. She was truly my Jewish mother and I am sure I would not have made it through those years, newly divorced, drastically changed path in life, new convert to Judaism, single mother - without Ann and her husband Sol. May they both rest in peace, their memories truly a blessing to their families and those they cared for as family.

Ella and I went back to the park this morning, early, before 6:30. Birds everywhere. A Mallard male paired with a female apparently nesting in a small pool-really a puddle- of water in the woods, lifted into the air and flew by me at eye-height about 6 feet away. It was still cool and there was a silver coat of mist covering the meadow between the rose garden and the pond. Except for the singing calling birds, all was quiet, peaceful. I guess we arrived early enough to avoid others, dog walkers, runners. There were 2 people taking photos - 1 in the tulip garden and 1 in "my" rock garden. A restful walk.

Peace upon us all.