[Magdalen] IMO

[Lynn Ronkainen]

In going through three boxes of correspondence dating from the 1950s through 
the early 2000s I just recently came across *all* the information and 
letters of condolences that my mom received/kept from when my father died 
(Jan 1975). She had lists of people to thank for contributions to a charity 
she had named in the obit. ...and many letters from people who were friends 
of my family, now all deceased themselves, who spontaneously wrote to my 51 
year old mom about the sudden and unexpected death of my 53 year old father 
and their friend. These notes had such a powerful effect on me, just reading 
them.  I had been married a year and lived a day's drive away, and had not 
lived at home for 5 years. I went back home and lived in a kind of vacuum 
regarding my dad's sudden death, and  'moved on' without much grieving 
because of the distance and separation from my own family, a new marriage 
and work. These notes and letters brought me a realization that my mom lived 
many days (months, and years) with the grief and 'what might have been/what 
was supposed to have been, but was also surrounded by so many people who 
loved her.

Lynn

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck
 "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a talk 
by Richard Rohr

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From: "ME Michaud" <michaudme at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 1:18 PM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] IMO

> Yes, it's a good thing and it feels wonderful.
> A good way to deal with an annual experience of grief & loss.
> -M
>
>
> On Tuesday, August 16, 2016, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think I will begin doing that for my mom and dad.