Editor’s note: Betty Heath’s column of March 7 presented a scenario in which an elderly couple was unable to sell their home due to it being on land that had been “designated” as open space. Privately owned land can be designated as open space only with the approval of the owner, and usually with compensation.
“Top of the morning to you — and the rest of the day to yourself.”
Begosh ’n’ begorrah. Happy St. Patty’s Day this coming Wednesday to all my Irish friends. Kiss me, I’m Irish! The traditions of St Patrick’s Day are so wonderful: the food, green beer, shamrocks, limericks, lullabies, wearing of the green and the Irish blessings.
Shamrocks and lady bugs are favorites of mine. I don’t think there’s any correlation between the two except perhaps in my mind. Shamrocks symbolize good luck and Irish lullabies symbolize love and affection. Lady bugs symbolize that love goes beyond life.
There just has to be a connection somewhere.
When I was a girl my friends and I would find lady bugs, pick them up and sing-song the phrase, “Lady bug, lady bug, fly away home; your house is on fire and your children are gone.” Then we would put them on a green plant and leave them alone.
On one of our recent warm mornings, I opened the French doors that lead from my dining area to the deck. As I looked around I spied a lady bug resting on the door sill. I picked it up and placed it on one of my green plants. Every spring I buy more lady bugs for my yard. Not only do they eat aphids and other garden killers, they are always there to remind me that love doesn’t ever go away.
My Irish friends are known for their great sense of humor and love for life and all it holds. They come from hardy stock. Many of their relatives arrived in ships and docked at Ellis Island. These immigrants established themselves and, through hard work, helped make America the great country it is today.
I think I must have a bit of Irish in me since my ancestors arrived in Holland from Germany and boarded a ship named Ann Galley that sailed out of Rotterdam, by way of the Orkneys, Scotland. They docked in the harbor of Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 1746. They settled in Virginia and North Carolina before crossing the frontier in a covered wagon to settle in unknown territory known today as the coal and gas valleys of Arkansas.
That’s where my parents met, fell in love and married 94 years ago, on March 3, 1927. I wish Mom and Dad were here to see the lady bugs in my garden. They remind me that my parent’s love is still with me just as it was so long ago.
Almost a year has passed since I lost the love of my life. During this time grief has been my constant companion. There have been days when grief is like a leech; it grabs hold and just won’t let go. It has been written anonymously that “grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief there is deep love.” However, over these past 10 months I have been surprised and blessed to find 12 pennies and seven feathers in various places; some have shown up in seemingly very odd places. When I opened the French door from the kitchen to the deck this morning I once again found a Lady Bug perched on the door sill.
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I share with you one of my favorite Irish Blessings: “May you always walk in sunshine, may you never want for more; may Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.”
"Love" - Google News
March 14, 2021 at 07:49PM
https://ift.tt/3tfr0xy
Betty Heath: Love goes beyond life - Longmont Times-Call
"Love" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35xnZOr
https://ift.tt/2z10xgv
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Betty Heath: Love goes beyond life - Longmont Times-Call"
Post a Comment