"And He will raise you up on eagle's wings...

bear you on the breathe of dawn
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of His hand."

Life isn't always rainbows and butterflies.  Sometimes, life is one damn thing after another.  All you can do is hang on and pray that you survive to someday thrive.

That's where I'm at now.  The story goes something like this:

Many many moons ago, I was active in the Travelers Choral Club.  Altos have the most fun!  One day at rehearsal I sat next to an older woman, who several people told me was not friendly and didn't really talk to people.  I picked up my music and greeted her with a smile and said "hi."   She introduced herself and we chatted until rehearsal started.  I don't know what those people were thinking, this woman was wonderful!  Over the next two or three rehearsals, I learned most of her life story, and What A Life!  Don't ask me why, but she chose me as a friend and I have been blessed for the last 20-some years to be a part of her life.

Who was she?  my friend: Helene   

this is her obituary.  It leaves out a bit.  Like, she was a nun, in the order of Sisters of St. Joseph.  She left the convent as it declined and made her own way in the world.  To me, she never really left the convent, it left her.

Dr. Joan Helene Blakeslee, 91, of Vernon, peacefully passed away in her sleep on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at her home with her beloved caregivers by her side.

Born in New Haven on Nov. 14, 1930, a daughter of the late Charles K. and Helen Z. (Dunn) Blakeslee, she had been a resident of Vernon since 1981. Dr. Helene was a graduate of Waterbury Catholic High School, Class of 1948 and St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Waterbury, Class of 1951, earning her RN degree. She went on to earn her BSN in nursing in 1956 from the College of Mary Immaculate in West Hartford, which was an affiliate of Catholic University, Washington, D.C. She earned her MS in biology in 1960 from Catholic University and her MD degree in 1967 from the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Helene did her internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brighton, Massachusetts and her residency in Internal medicine at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford from 1968 to 1971 where she was the chief medical resident in 1971. She had her own private practice for over 10 years in internal medicine before going to work at Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford for over 12 years as assistant medical director and medical director for Insurance Medicine. She was also a former member of the Connecticut State Board of Medical Examiners; Mercyknoll Medical Staff; New Hope Manor Board of Directors; John XXIII Intercommunity Retirement Program for Religious; Hartford County Medical Association; Hartford Medical Society; Connecticut State Medical Society; Alumni Associations of St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing, Catholic University of America, and University of Ottawa School of Medicine; American Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors; American Council of Life Insurance; and Board of Trustees of Tabor House in Hartford. A talented singer, Dr. Helene was a former member of the Traveler's Choral Club, Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir in Vernon, and St. Paul's Church Choir in Glastonbury. She enjoyed listening to classical music, reading, watching "quiz programs" on television, building and repairing things around her home, and most of all caring for people.

She is survived by her longtime dear friend and caregiver, Carole J. Cipolla of Vernon with whom she made her home; a second cousin, Lynn Sample; friends, Gaylene Sudano of South Windsor, and Raelene Cronin of Manchester; and many other friends, co-workers, and former patients that she cared for.

Funeral service will be Monday, May 23, at 10:30 a.m., from the D'Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St., East Hartford, with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Christopher Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer St., East Hartford. Burial will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, (Section Y), Bloomfield. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Monday morning, May 23, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dr. Helene's name may be made to the Felician Sisters, c/o Sister Mary Laurianne, 1315 Enfield St., Enfield, CT 06082.

 It hurts.  To know that I won't be seeing her again, in her chair.  Not much for talking, but really good at listening, and sometimes, giving advice.  Just the knowing that she was there.  Now, not there.   

The pups and Blackie don't leave me alone.  I have dog classes to attend, planting to do, housework and yard work.  One foot in front to the other.  One day at a time, sometimes it's one minute at a time.  

I am forever grateful she chose me to be her friend.

Peace, my friend.  Well done, Servant of God.

SPRING 2022

 

I’m sad.  It’s allowed.  This has been a bad spring.  It wasn’t supposed to be, it’s was supposed to be a fun spring with a 95^th birthday party in Myrtle Beach for my 2^nd mother (who provided me with a safe and loving place when I was 17), and prepping the pups for a summer of adventures in agility and scent trials.  We (the pups and I) went to South Carolina for the beginning of April.

Mom Cyr’s birthday party was a real celebration of a wonderful life well lived, with the sad understanding that cancer was going to take her away.  We expected we had months.  We didn’t.  I was home for 10 days when Melody called.

April 19^th, Jackie Cyr, my 2^nd mother went home to Jesus.

The funeral mass was lovely.  Mom was a professed lay Carmelite, and wanted her mass to be as formal as could be and mostly, it was.  I was very proud to be an honorary pall bearer, along with her sons, George and Chris and her grandsons, Brandon and Porter. 

The warmth and love she gave us that last birthday party was sustenance now.  I will always remember her when we said good-bye – her smile, the brightness in her eyes – how lovely and alive she was.

 As I drove home from the birthday party, my phone got a couple of texts.  Not unusual, but I don’t normally check them until I’m stopped for the night, or a meal.  This time, I stopped to walk the pups and checked. My cousins were letting me know that their mother, my cousin Kathleen had died in her sleep the night before.  This was a shock as there was no warning.

3 years ago, before Covid slammed the door on trips, I went ‘cross-country.  In Wyoming I had the pleasure of dinner with Kathleen and much of her family.  I hadn’t seen her in years but we kept in touch via email.  It was wonderful to see her (and them) again, and reaffirm the bond of “cousinhood” we shared. 

Kathleen had the gift of faith beyond all measure.  If she was the bulwark against all this world could ever throw at her family, faith was the mountain of strength she leant against.  She was made of love, grace and faith, and no one would stand against her.  Like so many, I loved her dearly.

 

As I absorbed the loss of two special people, a threat to a third was unfolding in Maine.  Grace, my cousin-in-law was in Eastern Maine Med’s ICU, fighting for her life.  She’d had a “bad reaction” to a drug.  Understatement of the year, and a horrible case of medical incompetence.  (another story for another day)

Gerald, her husband and my cousin called me with that news.  All I could do for him and their family (Paula, Todd and the grand-girls) was pray.  So I did.  Jerry would not be the fine man he is without Grace.  She was his saving Grace.  And I do so love them all.

It was a great relief to hear several days later that she was winning the fight of her life, but she’s not quite out of the woods.  Because her blood pressure dropped so precipitously, she was given “pressors” which helped save her life.  They may have cost her fingers or a hand…  we won’t know for a bit yet.  It’s an awful thing, to have to adapt to such a loss when you’re over 70, but if anyone can do it, Grace can.  And Jerry will be right there with her.  So this one at least is a bad news/good news thing.  I’ll hang on to the good news part.

I plan on visiting them in the fall.

Last, but not at all least, my step-aunt Nancy continues to fight “long covid” and the inexorably long decline associated with it.  Step-mom Betty has had yet another bout of covid, and is getting ready for hernia surgery sometime this month – if Covid will permit it. 

 

 

This is a bummer of a blog post.  In truth life is not always rainbows and unicorns, sometimes it sucks and that’s all there is to it.  Just get through it. 

Oh, and UCONN Women’s Basketball got all the way to the championship game.  Damn, and Thank God for that team.  At least I could enjoy their games.

Always, there are the fur-kids; without them where would I be?  (not going there)  Blackie, who is the best used-to-be-feral sweet cat ever; Trippy, for whom I am the ESH (emotional support human); and Tyson, who demonstrated to everyone this spring that he really is a born ESD (emotional support dog), by loving on those who needed him the most, even if he barely knew or had just been introduced.  I am so proud of him!

 

 I took some pictures and video during the birthday party.  Mom Cyr was a singer, and still had it at 95.  Sadly, I wasn't close enough to get much of her singing, but I did get her children and grandchildren singing.  It is one of the things we have in common - that love of music.

 

George sings the National Anthem 

 

Porter sings Happy Birthday 

(with a little helium help)

Porter and Brandon

Mom Cyr

back row:  Raelene, Brandon, Melody, Sharon, George and Porter

front row: Darcie, Mom, Johnna

we are all in yellow, Mom's favorite color.

 

Happy Easter!

 Today is April 17th, 2022, Easter Sunday and the 3rd day of Passover.  Woo Hoo!  It's a two-fer holiday.

It's nice to see Christians and Jews celebrating at the same time, even if they are different holidays.  After all, if there were no Passover, there'd be no Easter.  But let's not get religious or philosophical.  

Instead, let's talk about the Easter Bunny.  I've no idea where it started or why, but I love chocolate so I'm all for it.

As a young person, probably around 7 years old, my sister and I heard the Easter Bunny coming in the back door of our childhood home on Easter Sunday morning.  Because our house was built shortly after 1900, there were "heat registers" in the second story floor.  Well, there was one in the bathroom that afforded us a partial view of the kitchen and a really good listening post.  When we remodeled the bathroom, it was removed much to our dismay.  However, the remodeling was years away at this point.  So, it was shortly after dawn and our parents were asleep when my sister came and woke me up.  

We were crouched down by the register and heard the Easter Bunny at the back door.   O MY Goodness!  We hurriedly scampered back to our respective bedrooms and cowered under the covers, pretending to be asleep.  But we heard the crinkling of the cellophane that wrapped the baskets, we knew it was the Easter Bunny!

My sister got a bunny for Easter several years earlier.  His official name was Snow White, because he was... white.  But we called him Bun, BunBun.  There was a lack of understanding what Bun needed and sadly, he spent a winter in the basement because we didn't know that with a proper house he'd have been fine outside.  Since we were so young, we weren't allowed downstairs to take care of him, spend time with him, etc.  So, when fall rolled around again, Mother and Dad decided that Bun didn't deserve a winter in a dark basement.  It was decided to donate him to Sherwood Forest, a small, weird little zoo in a park in Hartford.  Somehow, Bun morphed into our Easter Bunny.  While we did go and "visit" him a few times, always picking out the largest, fattest white bunny rabbit as our "BunBun," I've always doubted we could really tell which white rabbit had been ours.

I remember going out to feed him with my sister.  She was in charge but quite often Bun was quick and escaped his pretty large cage.  More than one early morning presented the neighbors with the view of my mother running through yards in her robe and slippers calling "here Bun, here BunBun."  She either always caught him or he came back on his own.  I was only 4, so I don't really remember which it was.  Probably both!

 So, all that being said was it Bun  at the back door that Easter morning?  Did our white rabbit bring us those huge baskets full of chocolate and jelly beans and candy?

Oh, hell no.

But it was a great fantasy.

The reality was quite mundane but equally wonderful.  Our Great Aunt, Louise Wilson created the baskets every year.  She lived in West Hartford, a full half-hour away with my Grammy and our Uncle Bill.  She got up before dawn and drove all the way over to our house in Manchester, snuck in the back door (Mother and Dad snuck her a key during Holy Week) and left the baskets on the kitchen table.  Then she drove back to West Hartford...

Not only did she put the baskets together and drive them over, but she didn't get to see our faces as we discovered them Easter Morning.  It was years before we figured out how those baskets appeared and who was in fact responsible for them.   Just amazing.

Easter brings me the greatest joy, and sweetest sorrow.  No matter the calendrical date, it remains always the day my Mother died.  I was there with her, and I know she is always with me, but it still hurts.

May your Easter or Passover be a joyous one!

 

March Snow and Sap

 It's March 9th and two things are happening right now.  

It's snowing.

Maple sap is boiling.

The snow is slushy and will melt by mid-day tomorrow.  Yay for not having to shovel or snow-blow.

The maple sap is flowing well and I already have almost a half-gallon of syrup.  I'm boiling outside and inside, and have several gallons of sap still to go and taps still in the trees, collecting.  I expect I'll get a full gallon of good stuff this year.

Since we were expecting rain yesterday, I bought two cement blocks and set up in the front of the garage.  I got the old grill firebox from my family in Texas and carted it home on top of the little tiny trailer.  I cut two pieces of flat cold rolled steel stock to support the grill and the roasting pan to boil down the sap. 

Notice the THREE 5 gallon buckets?  They're full of sap.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen...  I was boiling the in the old white enamel pot and the smaller stainless stock pot all day.  I had to run the exhaust fan to get the steam OUT.  As the roasting pan boiled down, I moved it inside, too.  It's easier to control the heat on the stove.  Eventually, all three pots were combined into the steel pot as the candy thermometer works well in there.

It took another 4 hours from this point.  We got about 60 ounces syrup from all this, around 15 to 20 gallons of sap.

okay, now for something sweet

Several blogs ago I promised pictures of the puppies in Texas.  They are growing like weeds and my sister/friend is run ragged taking care of them.  She did send me a few pictures and I've stolen them for this.

We need something good and innocent to admire.

 

at about 4 weeks old...  weighing in at 6 lbs., 

after supper, food coma!  they're about 6 weeks old and between 11 and 12 lbs.  Getting so big!

Then they wake up and start stalking the kitchen floor for more food!  Look at how long their legs are!  

go back a few weeks, and here's one little baby...  wow, how big they've gotten!

this is their dad, Moon.  he's gorgeous!

Our World

 I belong to a UCONN Women's Basketball forum.  I love it, we're all fans, we love our team, and some of the members are very knowledgeable re: the game.  I've learnt a lot from reading it.  It's also a joyful place that doesn't put up with any politics.  Since I'm in such a liberal state, it's refreshing to not have any of that shite being spit out.

 There is a separate area of the forum where we can talk about off topic (non UCONN WBB) topics.  I don't often post there, but the last few days drove me to post the following:

 

"I've been watching the news far too much and this what I have to say:

Now that I am older, I wish to go and fight with the Ukrainian people.  (I am Irish-American, no blood ties)

Sadly for me, I am too feeble to be a decent or any kind of a fighter.  I would be a detriment to a fighting force. 

Putin scares the sh1t out of me.  I've always thought he's a nutcase with his finger on the trigger. 

The only thing I can do is pray for them, the Ukrainians.  Please join me."

So I ask you too, Please Pray for the Ukrainians.

 

 

 

The Gris (Museum and Inn) and on a different subject, A Rant

 

Feb. 27, 2022

Yesterday I went to the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.  There is an exhibition of needlework from the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries.  Quilted petticoats and bed rugs with incredible stitching and beautiful scenes.  It is amazing that this was done by hand and these pieces have survived the intervening years.  The colors are still there, in many cases, quite vibrant.  The stitching alone is amazing, hand-done and in one case, 18 stitches per inch!

 

So, not only was it fascinating and beautiful, but I was there with three of my dearest friends.   They always make these expeditions even more special.  Once we went through it all, we went over to Essex to the Griswold Inn.  I think I was there MANY years ago, but this place has been around since the 1800’s at least.  Probably 1700’s!  The food was excellent, the fire was beautiful and warm and we had a marvelous time.  Yay for yesterday!

 

Stop now if you don’t want to read my rant.

This morning, as I do on Sunday mornings I watched mass on tv.  The archbishop was the celebrant.  There was nothing special about it, but Wednesday starts Lent.  So at the homily, we got a little about that and a lot about the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.  (please send money)  Several minutes in fact.  Not one word about the war in Ukraine.  So, maybe he’ll say something at the end of mass…  Nope, Not One Word. 

It takes less than FIVE Seconds to say “Please pray for the people of the Ukraine.”  He couldn’t even spare that?  But Several Minutes asking us to send money.  I’m embarrassed, ashamed and angry.  This “Vicar of Christ” fails on so many levels, but this latest omission is beyond the pale.  There is no excuse.  NONE. 

Rant over.

For now.

And BTW, Please, Please pray for the people of the Ukraine.