Sunday, September 20, 2009

Rain Lily

I must apologize for my absense on the blog, but this has not been a good week for me.

At 11.30 pm Tuesday, my Mother passed away, and I was, understandably, terribly upset.

I won't go into the details here, but the last year of her life hasn't been the best, she was getting progresively weaker. This is in many ways a release.

But I wasn't able to get on the blog much. The week has proceeded in a surreal kind of clarity. Today, the sun came out, after a solid week of rain, and I was able to finally come back to reality.

These helped... The Zephyrantes candida, also know as Fairy lily, Toad lily or Rain lily have burst into bloom, just as they do every late summer and autumn after every heavy rain.


They spend much of their existence looking much like a row of Monkey Grass, but thier white, crocus-like blooms explode almost overnight.
These were blooming when my father died 5 years ago. September isn't the best of months for our family.
I was sitting outside under the willow tree today and I looked over to these blooms, and I remembered that after he'd passed, Mother and I were sitting in almost the exact same spot, looking at these flowers when she told me, "Life is for the living. It's time we got on with it."
Mother was a little on the blunt side. Not as blunt as my Grandmother, who once told one of my aunts, "You can't crawl into the grave with him, so keep going and your turn will come soon enough," but these flowers, the late summer sunshine and that memory have worked together to remind me that I was still alive. In many ways it doesn't seem fair, but life isn't. Yes I will mourn, and yes I will miss my Mother, but she gave me a lot of love and caring when she was here, and did everything she could to make me a strong person, and it will not honor her if I don't keep going, and hopefully pass that love, caring and strength on to someone else.
Not the most cheerful of posts.

11 comments:

  1. I am so sorry for your loss, Claude. Your words here prove that she did pass on so much strength and wisdom to you...and now you are sharing her words with us too! Interesting that those rain lilies bloomed on the ocassion of both parents deaths...a now sacred flower!!! Beautiful.

    Hang tight, Claude. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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  2. My deepest sympathies.

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  3. Very sorry to hear of your loss.

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  4. Ckaude, I'm so sorry for your loss. What a gift of comfort that the rain lilies bloomed for you! My father sends me "rose reminders." What a beautiful photo!

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  5. I am coming out of mourning phase too, a person whom I shared childhood with, I am glad he's suffering no more......

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  6. My sympathies, Claude. I hope you find peace and comfort in your garden and plants, and although the Rain Lillies remind you of loss, they are absolutely beautiful. I didn't know they could grow like that!
    Aiyana

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  7. Hi, a sad post to read but no need to apologize...we understand. I love the first photo...they did make me think of crocuses. And looks like they multiply well ;)
    Take care Claude

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  8. Hi Claude! You are on my mind daily and I am keeping you in my prayers. Hope all is well, and please take care of yourself!
    Your blogger pal...Julie

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  9. Hi Claude- I'm so sorry- It is hard to lose a parent, even if somewhat expected. I'm at that spot in life with my mom too, and every time the phone rings with a home area code that isn't my moms I wonder if something has happened. Your mom sounds like she was a wise woman, and I love the rain lilies story- that will be a memory you can hold onto and remember every year when they bloom. Take good care of yourself and know my thoughts are with you!

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  10. To lose a parent is always a very painful feeling, howsoever expected it might be. But sooner or later we all have to pass through these bitter experiences. The scars are permanent but the pain lessens with time.
    Sometimes I feel that these flowers - rain lillies, crocuses, etc - replicate human life. Just the way a flower blooms, withers, falls off, but spreads its seeds and goes on to live through them, the humans too continue to live through their children. So, get on with life, live it in full spirit. There is a part of your parents in you and that will continue to live and enjoy life through you...

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  11. Oh, Claude! Sorry I've been such a zero for blogging lately. I agree with you about September. Still, you're a great encourager. Your mother--God rest her soul--is proud of you!

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