by Pat Antonopoulos
Stillness. Sunday morning 4:30 AM, moonlight washed stillness.
On July 12, family arrived and our house has buzzed full-tilt since then. Additional family members arrived and added new life, moving through July and into August.
As we drove from the airport, I looked back to see my 40-something son moving toward the check-in and was reminded of the children's book, Love You Forever. He is an extremely capable person who handles life with assurance and care. Yet, I wanted to be with him to make certain he was safe. My next realization was that, if he and I were traveling together, I would depend on him to keep me safe.
Empty-nest revisited.
Showing posts with label Pat Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pat Family. Show all posts
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
One of One
By Pat Antonopoulos
She most certainly is that---one of one! My daughter-in-law is working for the success of
Four Ordinary Women. Today she went to the Jefferson County Library in Colorado and requested the book. Guess what? She is on the waiting list, one of one. How nice is that!
This week, she plans to visit book stores in the Golden/Boulder area, requesting the book and singing praises as she moves from store to store.
Her email address book is another source of her support as she shares the website
www.fourordinarywomen.com
with friends and extended family.
The most wonderful part is her determination to do all that she can to help me, the mother-in-law, achieve this dream. Kaiya IS one of one.
She most certainly is that---one of one! My daughter-in-law is working for the success of
Four Ordinary Women. Today she went to the Jefferson County Library in Colorado and requested the book. Guess what? She is on the waiting list, one of one. How nice is that!
This week, she plans to visit book stores in the Golden/Boulder area, requesting the book and singing praises as she moves from store to store.
Her email address book is another source of her support as she shares the website
www.fourordinarywomen.com
with friends and extended family.
The most wonderful part is her determination to do all that she can to help me, the mother-in-law, achieve this dream. Kaiya IS one of one.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A Tribute
by Pat Antonopoulos
Grandpa
G.P.
Papa
Hahba
One man, four names given by four grandchildren.
An arbitrary decision made by card manufacturers has designated today as a time to appreciate generations of fathers. We probably need that yearly prompt reminding us to honor dads, thanking them for the years of intense commitment to protecting us body and spirit.
Our tributes are laurels for every man who deserves the title and who lives the responsibility.
A more specific and personal tribute is for Grandpa-G.P.-Papa-Hahba, a man who, by saying, I Do! accepted a ready-made family. It is this family who gave him the joy of four grandchildren. He has truly honored his role of step dad, protecting body and spirit in all his five chosen children.
Today, he is husband, step dad, father-in-law and grandfather. And he lives these promises 365 days year to year to year. There are no cards or gifts to honor that level of commitment. From deep in the heart...thank you.
Grandpa
G.P.
Papa
Hahba
One man, four names given by four grandchildren.
An arbitrary decision made by card manufacturers has designated today as a time to appreciate generations of fathers. We probably need that yearly prompt reminding us to honor dads, thanking them for the years of intense commitment to protecting us body and spirit.
Our tributes are laurels for every man who deserves the title and who lives the responsibility.
A more specific and personal tribute is for Grandpa-G.P.-Papa-Hahba, a man who, by saying, I Do! accepted a ready-made family. It is this family who gave him the joy of four grandchildren. He has truly honored his role of step dad, protecting body and spirit in all his five chosen children.
Today, he is husband, step dad, father-in-law and grandfather. And he lives these promises 365 days year to year to year. There are no cards or gifts to honor that level of commitment. From deep in the heart...thank you.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
After This Storm
by Pat Antonopoulos
As children, we sat on the roofed porch and watched the storm. Early Spring might require that we wrap in quilts as we relished every lightening/thunder combo. Often the winds dampened us as we clutched the edges of our wraps. A super storm could wet our hair and wash our faces.
In his book, Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds, George Singleton gives the rule for using cliches.
Rule # 1 Don't.
'Tongue in cheek' comes to mind. On page 122 Mr. Singleton gives Pep Talk NO. 169---Guilty Pleasures. Sometimes a well used cliche is the literary device that gets us where we are going with minimal explanation.
A dog-eared cliche is the scene outside my window. Damaged branches have gouged holes in the yard. Flower petals on the walk, broken pots, gutters down, deck furniture upended, a beautiful washed-clean-world. And that circles to the cliche.
What better frame could we find for the emotional dramas that storm though our lives? Upheaval, especially in family situations, has it all---thunder, lightening, minor destruction of damaged parts and even the guilty pleasure that can come with the cleansing.
Of course, the tragedy of nature's most destructive storms does not leave a washed-clean-world, but a porch swing storm can be help us find new ways of taking out the broken parts, cleansing the old ways and learning to cherish being together.
As children, we sat on the roofed porch and watched the storm. Early Spring might require that we wrap in quilts as we relished every lightening/thunder combo. Often the winds dampened us as we clutched the edges of our wraps. A super storm could wet our hair and wash our faces.
In his book, Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds, George Singleton gives the rule for using cliches.
Rule # 1 Don't.
'Tongue in cheek' comes to mind. On page 122 Mr. Singleton gives Pep Talk NO. 169---Guilty Pleasures. Sometimes a well used cliche is the literary device that gets us where we are going with minimal explanation.
A dog-eared cliche is the scene outside my window. Damaged branches have gouged holes in the yard. Flower petals on the walk, broken pots, gutters down, deck furniture upended, a beautiful washed-clean-world. And that circles to the cliche.
What better frame could we find for the emotional dramas that storm though our lives? Upheaval, especially in family situations, has it all---thunder, lightening, minor destruction of damaged parts and even the guilty pleasure that can come with the cleansing.
Of course, the tragedy of nature's most destructive storms does not leave a washed-clean-world, but a porch swing storm can be help us find new ways of taking out the broken parts, cleansing the old ways and learning to cherish being together.
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