#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

I took a short, meditative walk after working on a poem and sending out my weekly Aim for Astonishing email. Cool and damp morning, a little bit of rain. Then into the car to meet my sister, leave my car and drive to Connecticut to see my aunt. I’m so grateful for my sister and for my brother and my cousins. When my sister and I arrived at my aunt’s she was clearly, well, in the process of letting go. What a beautiful thing: she called us each by name and pulled us in, one at a time, for the deepest, longest, most intentional loving hug she’s ever given. I knew what she meant, and I was so grateful. Her goddaughter had arrived before us. She said that seeing us was the most alert she’d been. And we stayed through the day. Our cousins came, Lisa and Steven, and their spouses, and my brother, and the tiny room was filled with her loved ones. Joanna and I knew we would not be leaving at the end of the day. My daughter Perri called and said she was coming and would stay the night. Two hours later my daughter arrived. We told aunt Dot that Debbie, her daughter, and Bob, her husband, were waiting for her so the three of them can be together again. I’m so grateful Perri came and wanted to be with her so we could get some sleep, which we are about to do now. We’ll return to see Dot in the morning.