Our family appreciated having a quiet day yesterday filled with various individual activity as well as time together. We even made time for a viewing of Cars… which never gets old. Vivid images of July 25, 2017 flooded my mind all day but images of happier times also flooded my mind and helped temper the pain a bit. A big thanks to all who sent cards and messages via text and email… every one a reminder that we are surrounded by friendship and love. We love you right back.
It happened. I lost my ability to type.
Of all my creative skills (music making, silversmithing, crafting) I dreaded losing typing the most because my computer work is a great time filler, processing in words is therapeutic for me and also keeps me connected with people. I’m not sure what this means for the blog. Maybe I’ll continue my posts by dictating to a friend, like I am now, or maybe Rolf and the kids will choose to carry on but one way or another I hope the updates will continue for the purpose of prayer.
So how am I filling my time? You might be disappointed to know that I spend the majority of my time binge-watching Dateline or 48 Hours. Not a particularly holy practice but I find solace in being able to say I don’t envy any of their stories. To be honest, life is becoming less about adjusting to a new normal and more about escaping my reality. When I’m not at church or at Kyle’s Kitchen listening to the boys playing music or at a doctor’s appointment, I am home engaged in my binge-watching or sleeping as sleep is really the ONLY time I’m able to truly escape. It isn’t quite as pitiful as it sounds…I do have the joy of family around and my friends but the days are long and it is getting harder to fill them with meaningful moments as I lose all ability to engage in life.
I’m not only feeling trapped physically but emotionally too. Many times during the day I want to meltdown with a big cry but I don’t feel that freedom because I can’t blow my nose or wipe my eyes. I just end up getting all congested and can’t breathe. You can’t imagine how frustrating it is to not be able to blow your nose or wipe your eyes. 🙂 Of course, this is a terrible week to not feel the freedom to completely unload emotionally as we prepare to face the two-year anniversary of Rudy’s passing on Thursday. 😦 If ever it felt like the walls were closing in on all sides, it is now.
I’m not sure there is any new lesson to be learned in this season. In moments of prayer and meditation I feel like God is telling me to relax and ride the wave…to lean into my lifetime of faith and coast a little bit. Winston Churchill’s famous quote (“Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer”) keeps coming to mind. More and more this journey is about enduring not only for me but also for those who are walking with me. I actually don’t think escaping is a bad idea as long as I don’t ignore the moments in my day that are life-giving…
We don’t have a specific plan for Thursday. Unlike last year, we are going to just let the day take us where it will. I sure would appreciate your prayers for this whole week to be exactly what we all need, individually and as a family. None of this is what I envisioned for our family and yet, all of this continues to shape our family in ways that are truly giving me life now. How utterly confounding that is to me and also deeply, deeply comforting.
Okay, I need to get back to my Dateline episode but I will leave you with this tribute to Rudy. ‘Probably my all-time favorite song the boys do:
The Kansas Wilsons including my mom and brother’s family arrived in Goleta last week just in time to celebrate America’s Birthday California-style. Their 3 1/2 day visit included lots of beach time, pool time and yummy Mexican food. I enjoyed getting to know my two new nephews-in-law a bit and watching my kids soak up quality cousin fun. They may be all grown up but they still play hard. 🙂 Time with loved ones is never long enough but we made the most of it, for sure.
Rudy's Beat 