Maggie's Day 311 of Discovering Love in Giving Gifts of Hope

As she stood and spoke of what ever it was she was sharing I clicked this photo of Luanne enjoying a little bit of holiday cheer. I never bothered to ask her what was in her drink other than the obvious red cherries that had found their way to the point where the stem begins or ends depending on which end of the glass you are referencing.

The cherries sat still in the glass full of something that Luanne really seemed to like. So I clicked away. Amazingly I was able to get a photo that actually came out clear. It wasn’t that Luanne couldn’t stand still or talk without moving her hands. It was the fact that I kept getting hit by the people that walked past me at a party that was one of the grandest of the holiday season.

A partial band of two played in the corner nestled in next to the Christmas tree that was actually three palm trees made out of some kind of man-made material strung with lights and flowers and a sporadic ornament or two.

On a table nearby lay a tray of wineglasses with the stems pointing up. Perhaps it was the same tray from where Luanne’s glass had once stood. It looked as though it could have been.

Maggie's Day 310 of Discovering Love in Possibly a Final Slumber Party

After a delicious picnic breakfast that was like the kind you would find in castles Michelle and George walked down the street in the rain. It felt as though it was the last time I would have them over for a slumber party. As their backs disappeared through the barren trees I realized that an era had passed and the slumber parties had most likely ceased.

It was a quiet moment that deserved a flashback of almost twenty years of slumber parties, fifteen kids, two houses and the heart of an aunt that grew with each.

So, perhaps I shall simply end this page so that silence can fall where a death has occurred.

Sweet Dreams to you and all those with whom you have ever slumbered! Maggie ã


How did you discover love today?

I welcome your comments here or on line at discoveringlovein365days@hotmail.com.

Maggie's Day 309 of Discovering Love in a Winter Solstice Slumber Party

I wait all year for this day. It’s my favorite day of the year, the Winter Solstice. It will actually occur at half past midnight but I’m counting it for today since the Capricorn astrological sign begins today.

It’s all a lot of something and just maybe nothing at all as well. We’ll never know.

One thing I do know is that I love to share this day with my nieces and nephews. I’ve been doing so for twenty years. I hope I get another twenty of the same love and fun and adventure.

Because the kids are getting older they haven’t quite yet arrived and it’s just minutes before eleven o’clock. They are driving themselves. There is something absolutely magical and comforting about having a slumber party with my nieces and nephews and they drive themselves over.

Maggie's Day 308 of Discovering Love in a Set of Four Black Suites with Matching Ties

Funerals wear me out. So does manual labor and creative thought and output. I managed to get all of those in today quite successfully. You can imagine then that I am spent. I am.

But I could not possibly end this day without sharing with you my discovery love. It happened something like this.

A minute past ten-thirty this morning I entered the church for Orville’s funeral. I had already greeted the pallbearers outside hugging each one and kissing them as well. Inside I sat alone. The church was empty minus the pews, podium, piano and Christmas decorations.

I had never been in a church that was so sparse. I had never been to Orville’s funeral either. It would prove to be a day of firsts.

As my nephews entered with the casket I was in awe of how grown up they had become while I was watching them grow. Their tailored black suits fit like gloves. Their starched white shirts contrasted beautifully with the patterned black on black ties that each wore. Each tie sporting a different geometrical orientation.

Maggie's Day 307 of Discovering Love in Shopping in a Barn the Monday Before Christmas

The rain came down today as the Christmas shoppers dashed in and out of the places that held the gifts they wanted to purchase. I was at the funeral home paying my respects to a family who deserves so much more than I could ever give them.

I showed up. While I was there I reminded my niece of what Rudy Guilianni once said, “Weddings are optional. Funerals are mandatory.” I do what I can. Today I could.

After my respects were paid and my love freely shared I headed across town in a mad dash to complete one of my Christmas presents. Time is running out. I’m not ready for it to pass quite yet.

One of the stops I had to make included a barn for shopping. It was outside the barn when I caught sight of this fabulous little wagon that reminded of days gone by and happy moments of innocence and play. I guess kind of like Christmas. How sweet it all is.

Maggie's Day 306 of Discovering Love in Discovering John

It’s a minute prior to two o’clock in the morning. I’ve been sitting at my computer and thus far all I have been able to accomplish is waking up from every time I fall asleep. Tonight is going to be extremely difficult to accomplish. But accomplish it I will.

I went to a party this evening. I would love to spread the magnificence and fun and uniqueness of this party all over these pages. But I can’t because of what happened to me while I was there.

Within the first hour of when I arrived I saw a man whom I met while I was doing my photographic series on the homeless. I was not prepared to see John. I am sure he was not prepared to see me either. But we saw each other.

The second time I saw him I knew exactly who he was. He knew who I was too. I asked him if he was the gentleman whom I had run into at the library. He confirmed to me that he was the John I had photographed.

Maggie's Day 305 of Discovering Love in Missing the Party with Availability and Flexibility

There’s a party going on down the street. I’m not there. I never made it.

The invitation came in via my e-mail address at half-past nine and then just a few minutes more this evening. Unfortunately, at that time and all the way up until just a few minutes ago I was down at school working in the studio racing against the clock. I won.

The school shuts down at midnight on Sunday. After that I will not have access to my studio until the second of January. That’s a long time for a woman like me.

So, today, straight from work I headed down to school with the intent of completing my project. I knew I still had a few hours tomorrow night if I didn’t complete the job tonight. But I did so all is well.