Author: alwaysbridging

As per my spiritual director, “Your mother already has one foot in heaven.” Sometimes she shares what it’s like with everyone in her orbit and beyond. This week the hospice harpist offered us a concert in the living room of Mom’s adult family home. While she snoozed, we meditated and watched the muted TV. The white smoke billowed and the choice of Pope Leo XIV was unveiled halfway around the world. Divine. Surreal.

On these days, I still have to face a chore or two like Martha did (see Luke 10:38) but more often I am shifting and leaning in with Mary-energy. My sisters are encouraging me as they handle some of the practical heavy lifting from afar and I weep and anoint as best I can, remembering my hospice prayer:

Holy One,

In your mercy, grant Mom comfort and ease, and shower comfort and ease on all those who love and care for her.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

We are in the throws of closing down after Moisture Festival and anticipate major withdrawal as our favorite chef moves on to bigger and better things. Let me explain.

Our daughter Carolina has been visiting while she fed the performers and volunteers who’ve created 29 cabaret-like variety shows downtown over 17 nights. We have loved being in her orbit even as Rob has faced the beginning of treatment for a recurrence of cancer. Such joyous life! Every day she leaves here in a different costume and returns with fabulous left-overs to feed us.

Our humble kitchen practically shivers in anticipation of her energy. It happily helps chop and bake and refrigerate her creations. And now in the aftermath, plastic bags having been cleaned for reuse, hang everywhere. Our center of nourishment settles and waits patiently for the next time she rolls through. Fortunately, she has taught me a few tricks but, Lord, the relative peace and quiet is tangible.

We’re on leave from choir so this is my first spring Sunday of journaling on the porch under a down comforter while the boys snooze. Hopefully we’ll actually go to short contemplative Eucharist service tonight – St Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle at 7 pm – where friend Mel Butler is the guest musician.

“Aunt Tater” – brand new nickname conceived during yesterday’s pop-up March Madness birthday party – surprised me with breakfast including lu-ma-mi (LUnes MArdes MIércoles, aka leftovers) of fruit salad and tits, oo I mean tots; bread pudding freshly created by my favorite chef for the morning crew at MF, aka Moisture Festival; PLUS whole cream in my coffee.

What could be better? OK, OK, we know what could be better.

Yes, I know I am behind. For the past four years I have posted every day in Lent, starting with an ashes photo.

This year though, Ash Wednesday fell between the days of Chemo Care Class and Rob’s first treatment for recurrence of bladder cancer. That and the reality that my mother turns 97 soon (with all the meaning that entails) makes it clear I will not be writing every day.

That doesn’t mean I am not observing Lent. As it turns out, the juxtaposition of these events, not to mention the darkness of our political scene, appears to be a way God is getting my attention about this holy season as never before.

I am grateful to have guest authors who may post here over these 40 days. May their presence here and in this world be a blessing to you as it is to me.

After two weeks away in Cancún, we are remembering that favorite Obama slogan—“Yes, We Can!”—as Rob faces treatment for recurring cancer.

We’ll probably resurrect CaringBridge at some point to share medical details.

Super grateful for this time together and for our wonderful circle of friends and family who hold us.