A DAY OF CELEBRATION OF HAVING LOVED AND LIVED AND EMPOWERED LIFE
We had a lovely friend who sent us a wind chime after Jeffrey died. On one side of the hanging feather it reads: “Listen to the wind and know that I am near.” On the other is just JEFFREY SCHOORMAN - 1984-2024 - YOU OK? YES!
It is softly ringing. The birds are a little more quiet. Little rustlings and cries of the fledglings. A baby raccoon cried from under the woodpile for 2 days. His sibling expired on the back terrace. I set him peacefully in the leaves in the forest.
It is Mother’s Day. One wonders about Mama Raccoon. I am sure she did not give up easily. Whatever pulled her down was something beyond her power. Because her first concern would have been her babies.
We are like that, we mamas. I cannot hear a baby cry without it cutting deep in my heart. I know my limitations. We are all helpless at times.
Last Mother's Day 2025 I gently scattered Jeffrey’s ashes under the beautiful emerald canopy of our little slice of paradise in the forest. He is there now. It is Jeffrey’s Woods. When he was very young he would walk around the yard like a small wood sprite, pausing at each tree to listen to some special message that only he could hear. Maybe it was the quiet roots sending energy in their vigilant patrol of the ecosystem to the soles of his feet. Maybe it was the wind fairies singing secrets of their magical passage. Or maybe it was the lush green leaves slowly absorbing our invasive carbon dioxide and releasing their healing oxygen into his small lungs. He was one with the universe. He is again.
May all mamas know that their love can make the world a better place, although we cannot quite fix it. That was Jeffrey’s request to his Mommy always. “Fix it!” We try and sometimes we fail. But yes, Jeffrey. You are OK and we are OK. Because we have our love.