Today was a glorious spring day complete with an eclipse. I sat perched on the porch swing eating my breakfast bagel and fruit and watched all the birds and squirrels starting their morning routine of eating all day. Unfortunately I think I have the same routine. Father Sky filled his blue sky canvas with large clouds, thick and dull white, and occasionally moved the clouds to let the sunshine peek through. The day was loud with bird songs and bird calls and the chattering of the squirrels composing a yard symphony.

I spent the morning spring cleaning the porch, washing off the pollen and washing all the porch pillows and swing cushions. Stew and I sat on the porch as the eclipse took place. Father Sky cleared the sky of his clouds and we watched the shadows from the oak tree and noticed the quietness of the birds. Twilight softly invaded our neighborhood as the eclipse began blocking the sun’s rays. Nature is beautiful with all her gifts of natural phenomenons.

After the eclipse the sky began filling with clouds whose bellies were full of purple raindrops. The pageant of sunset took place behind the clouds in the colors of a cool spring rain shower. Mother Nature brushed her watercolors across the horizon in the colors of a storm for her backdrop of sunset, layers of purples and blues and grays. The sun was dressed in a tea length gown of rain blue silk, fashioned with a train of lightning bolts. As she rolled down the horizon behind her curtain of clouds, she was glowing luminously. Father Sky kissed her goodnight and left to wake the moon and stars, snug in their cloud covers. The night anticipated a storm and the day had experienced an eclipse.

I like this quote. “If we talk to God in the morning before we talk to anyone else we will be a lot easier to get along with.” Morning prayers are a great way to start the day. Just a thank you for breath and the beautiful day can help with the day’s challenges.

My friend gave me a book of quotes this weekend and I enjoyed sitting in the swing and thinking about how they apply to me. Another quote I love by Lin Yutang reads, “It is in those quiet little towns at the edge of the world, that you will find the salt of the earth people who make you feel right at home.”

Our quiet little town lost a beautiful soul yesterday, certainly the salt of the earth, who always welcomed me into her home. I know she’s in heaven happily reunited with her husband and family and friends. She lived a life of service and love for 98 years. She was a porch swing sitter like me and enjoyed her bird feeders. Whenever she had family company you would find them on the porch happy with conversation and laughter. I walked over to her home with Penelope when I first moved to Roanoke. She was sitting on the porch with her two daughters, playmates of mine when we were children, and we spent a congenial hour laughing and talking.

She left a mountain of family photos where her husband captured an American family in the bloom of happiness, a wondrous chronicle of their children growing up and celebrating life’s magical moments. I know those wondrous photos will give her children comfort.

She raised two daughters and two sons and lived to see ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. I’m sure many of her classroom students are remembering her tonight and reflecting on her kindness and how fast time flies. Mrs. Ruth was venerable and lived her life as a Christian woman, faithful to her church and its families. We will all miss this sweet soul.

“We do not have to rely on memories to recapture the spirit of those we have loved and lost – they live within our souls in some perfect sanctuary which even death cannot destroy.” — Nan Witcomb