Last night, after I returned home from our weekend trip, I was sitting at the computer checking emails and news updates. It was sunset, and the view across the front yard was spectacular.
Last January, I tried an online writing project called “A River of Stones”. It is one of the pages on this site. That project involved writing a “small stone”, a short description of everyday observations, each day during month of January. The same folks have begun a new project, this one called “Writing Our Way Home”. As part of the project, I am hoping to write similar small descriptions on a regular basis. More small stones of writing.
My goal is to exercise my writing mind. Unlike physical exercise where the goal is to decrease the size of my body-at least that is what I am told, I haven’t actually experienced it-the goal of this exercise is to expand my abilities to observe my world and my writing skills. We’ll see.
In any event, I have added a page to this site, and am hoping to post small stones there as they come to me. It may be boring and contain pure drivel to anyone else, but I will post them as I can. I am keeping them separate from this part of the site. There are now several versions of something I thought of last evening as I sat looking at the sunset. If you are interested, check it out.
As to the weekend, it is over. We buried my sister’s ashes and had a small family ceremony. My brother, a former minister, coordinated the ceremony. It was very moving, very nice. And it is done. The relief is nearly palpable to me.
The family went out for a lunch and lifted our glasses in a toast to my sister…….”To Kathleen, To Family, To Life, L’Chaim!”
Just My Life 
I hope you’re able to finally find peace. May the memory of your sister be a blessing.
By: Sank on November 28, 2011
at 10:59 am
Thank you so much.
By: chlost on November 28, 2011
at 6:14 pm
When my sister died, my dad asked if I would keep her ashes as he had my mother’s. I had never been close to my sister but I thought it fitting that she reside on a shelf in my kitchen since she hated to cook. I’m not sure that’s a fitting comment so I would not be upset if you deleted it, but it is what came to mind when reading your post.
By: Doc on November 28, 2011
at 6:21 pm
At least you had your sister’s ashes with you. The fact that my sister’s ashes had been left at the funeral home is what was so difficult. I imagine your sister somewhere, laughing about the irony of her current location.
By: chlost on December 3, 2011
at 12:46 pm
*hugs* I’m glad you were finally able to settle your sisters ashes. I hope you will all now be able to be at peace as well.
By: dragonfae on November 29, 2011
at 3:58 am
Thank you. It has made a difference.
By: chlost on December 3, 2011
at 12:47 pm
I am so glad for the peace–or relief?–you can now feel. That waiting was agonizing, I know.
Hurrah to you on the daily writing. To get words out of our heads and then try to shape them is profoundly difficult; it’s work so hard very few take it on, and even fewer succeed. I was helping edit something for my 11-year-old this past weekend, and she got frustrated with how long I was taking. She thought it would be an easy cruise and BAM, it would be done. Never. It’s true labor.
But the rewards are immense. Good for you.
By: Jocelyn on November 29, 2011
at 12:14 pm
I am doing a little more writing. It is not on a daily basis, though. Unless you count the writing in my head.
By: chlost on December 3, 2011
at 12:47 pm
I’m glad you were able to finally have a burial for you sister. I will echo Sank, may her memory be only for a blessing.
Am looking forward to viewing those stones. Good for you!
By: Yael on November 29, 2011
at 8:28 pm
It’s good that you could have a ceremony with your family.
I’ve just read your River of Stones and they are beautiful. Such lyricism.
By: yearstricken on November 29, 2011
at 9:38 pm
I’ve never made use of the writing prompt sites, but I think I should and I admire you for doing so. I’ll visit your stones.
Relieved that your ceremony for your sister is done, a better thing to look back on than forward toward.
By: Nance on November 29, 2011
at 9:41 pm
Sorry to hear about your sister. Hope things are better soon. Writing is my outlet too. I’m sure yours is amazing!
Sandy
By: momof12 on November 30, 2011
at 3:35 am
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Therapeutic writing….it helps.
By: chlost on December 3, 2011
at 12:49 pm
I’m very belatedly catching up. I’m so glad you were finally able to experience those moments and say goodbye to your sister in a way that feels more right. Best of luck on your new writing adventure!
By: Rose on January 5, 2012
at 8:36 pm