Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
The Promise
This morning my house is minus one resident. Jan is on her way to Naples, Florida, for a nice get-away. I celebrate the fact that she can do this. Not too far in the past she would not have been able to venture out solo because her health was too fragile. She has been through medical hell these last few years. It is so ironic that the onset of diabetes last July was actually the beginning of her healing. Some lifestyle changes, avoiding sugary and chemically laden foods are the secret to her success.
She is going to visit two of our favorite people. Sandi, the artist, is represented on the walls of our home. We have four of her paintings, each one a different style. At one time in Santa Fe when we got a new front door, Sandi raided Michael’s store for a bunch of paint colors and painted us a New Mexican front door. We love that door so much that we have taken it with us to Florida and now Saint Louis. The picture is attached. Sandi is in her mid 80’s and still painting. She has survived Covid at least twice, and overcame a cancer diagnosis a few years ago. God is still working through her and her journey continues. We are friends from when Jan and I lived in Naples. We have shared meals, long discussions, movie going, and hanging out. She loved our dog, Minnie, who could destroy any toy. Sandi was forever bringing something over for Minnie, declaring, “She won’t be able to tear this one apart”, only to be disappointed. Again.
Jan will also spend time with our former minister from Unity of Naples. Diane is Jan’s spiritual director and support person in all things spiritual. She is a lot of fun to be around because she has a quick wit and a quick mind. She has prayed with Jan through a whole lot of health scares, holding the high watch for Jan. Everyone needs a Diane to remind us that the Universe has only the best of intentions for us. Diane travels around Florida filling in for Sunday services when asked. She is also a brave voyager and goes overseas with some regularity. We have a small beaded figure of a lion from her trip to Africa. I will see her this June when I go to Unity Village for the annual convention. She usually MC’s many of the offerings, so I will get to see a lot of her.
After a busy weekend with our friend Cassondra, we were both tired yesterday morning. Jan was prepared to leave and start her long drive despite the small fatigue. We were sitting at the dining room table as I got geared up to leave for work. As a way of saying goodbye, we played Tracy Chapman singing her gorgeous composition, The Promise, and held hands. This ballad of Tracy’s is what you could call our love song. Some of the words that belonged to yesterday morning: “If you wait for me
Then I’ll come for you
Although I’ve traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart.
If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
Then I’ll return to you
I’ll return and fill that space in your heart…
Mollie and I are on our own. I will miss Jan, but I adamantly believe in the power of doing things apart from one another. I’ll have Rose and Mary over for spaghetti tonight. I’ll work and try to get home as soon as I can to reassure Mollie that she still has a human to look after her. At night, Mollie usually dives under the covers on Jan’s side of the bed, so she’s always a little fussed when Jan’s side is vacant. She is a creature of habit, as are both of us.
In the meantime, I can get up before dawn and play my music out loud instead of through ear buds. Every day I will pray for Jan to have a great time with our kindred souls.