Thursday, April 22, 2010

An Earth Day Prayer

Yes, I confess to slacking off when it comes to my blog. The main obstacle to me these past few weeks has been waiting for the right moment to post.

I don't like to blog when I have things on my mind that are too personal and don't have anything happy, or uplifting to share with others. There is already too much bad news out there all the time!

So this morning, a bright and sunny Earth Day I have the perfect excuse. I am soon to be a grandfather and yesterday my pregnant daughter Nika showed up with her mom to take a seawall walk with dad.

Nika and Karen showed up pretty much on cue, around 12:30 and we went down to the seawall and walked to English Bay and then up Denman for lunch.

Nika had just cut Karen’s hair and they had pretty much bonded before arriving so it was nice to be in their ambience. All through our visit I didn’t see evidence of a single cigarette nor a complaint in that direction.

We had lunch at the new Knight & Day along Denman (they did; I had breakfast) and then they polished off my leftover pancakes for desert after their calamari and salad lunch which looked very appetizing indeed.

Nika looked healthy and very happy and a friendly waitress announced that her belly was definitely harboring a boy as it is very round and pronounced!

Nika told me they had everything they needed for the newborn baby and are going to wait until June for the baby shower once they are sure of the baby’s sex. Karen is going to be helping them clean their apartment in anticipation of the baby’s immanent arrival in May.

The walk to English Bay was initially cold and sunless but by the time we came outside after lunch, the sun had started to appear and part the cloud cover and so we were able to amble back in its healing presence and admire the tulips, bluebells and cherry blossoms.

The return walk was pretty much the walk I envisioned when they first suggested it last week. We walked and talked to the rhythm of the surf and admired the new spring greenery all around us.

It was nice to spend time with two of the very specials girls in my life. It was nice to live in the moment with them as in the family days of yesterday when Nika was just a toddler.

Today, on Earth Day, I pray that the April showers will give birth to many May flowers.

1 comment:

Marilyn said...

What a perfect way to spend your Earth Day..with your family anticipating the birth of a grandchild.

Having taken that stroll many times and dined on Denman with you, I was there in spirit again reading your blog. I hope you will have many opportunities to stroll with the grandchild that will be.

Mine are so far away, but no day cannot be made better for me by looking at the screen saver of my
three grandchildren (taken in their Easter finery)this year. Their beautiful smiles lift me up each day, and it is a joy I wish to share with you.

I recently read an article on loving kindness meditation, which recommended that you first bring to mind someone who is easy to love and then let that feeling
that arises be directed in toward yourself. I knew immediately where to get that feeling. The next step is to let the feeling grow and to direct it out towards others (and finally toward all
beings)...Somehow a grandchild is the perfect being to bring that loving kindness back to us.