Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Walking In Beauty

I walked down the street.
I wanted to check on my neighbor's Iris.
I had divided some of mine with her many years ago.
It is what gardeners do.
She is no longer in her house.
She has Alzheimer's disease.

I checked her peonies.

My other neighbor is in a nursing home.
His wife died a few years ago.
I checked his Rhododendron.
It is a huge tree now.

I thought about how my neighborhood has changed in the last thiry years.
I thought about how I have changed.
I am walking on my 55th year.
I am walking in beauty.

Please join me on this walk.

11 comments:

Naturegirl said...

THE BEAUTY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS LIVE ON IN THESE REMINDERS OF THE LOVE AND CARE GIVEN TO THESE EVERLASTING BLOSSOMS!wE LIVE ON IN THE GARDENS WE PLANT!
This was a touching post for me because my mother has Alzheimers and her neighbors probably have memorable walks as you did walking past her garden and remembering that ~sHe once lived there.hugs NG

Q said...

Dear Nature Girl,
It is very difficult to watch our loved ones decline. Alzeimers is very, very hard. My Mother had Dementia. She did know me up until she had a stroke and died.
I understand how hard it is. Do know my thoughts are with you. We do live on in the gardens.
I have started another blog. I will keep Corner; posting about the gardens and life as we live it. The new spot is for those who would like a Walk in Beauty. It is about ageing gracefully. There is a link on the side bar. I hope you will have a chance to come by. It is a comtemplative spot.
Always I appreciate your comments and your walk in your beautiful gardens.
Hugs and blessings,
Sherry

Mary said...

As always, an insightful and meaningful post.

I also very much appreciated Naturegirl's lovely sentiments. It's true that even after we're gone, the essence of who we were lingers in the memories of those who knew us. What a lovely thought that a flower planted years ago brings might one day bring a smile of memory to someone's face.

Jayne said...

We do have but a finite time here. So glad that you have the memories of these beautiful flowers and the people who loved them.

smilnsigh said...

Lovely photos.

Touching entry.

I'm so glad you take the time to notice and enjoy these beauties, especially since the home owners no longer can.

Mari-Nanci

smilnsigh said...

Oh thank you for pointing me to your new on-line journaling. A Walk In Beauty.

About ageing gracefully!

Such a marvelous topic to deal with.

Mari-Nanci

Mary said...

This touches my heart. I wonder who is looking after my Mom's flowers? My Dad's in a nursing home.

Bittersweet post, Sherry. I hope you keep walking in beauty for another 55 years.

Q said...

Dear Mary,
I do think when we plant trees and shrubs we are planting for the future. We never know how we affect others. I hope my gardens bring a smile to those that walk by both today and in a hundred years.
Naturegirl's comment "We live on in the gardens we plant" has stayed in my mind all day today.
We just never know how important our acts and our words are.
Nameste,
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Jayne,
I have lived on the corner of a dead end street now for thirty years. I was the first family of the next generation to move in. I have watched many of the older familes grow up and now the Grandparents are Great-grandparents. We have a few original home owners, they are elderly. I keep an eye on them as they walk.
I am just being a good neighbor.
Sherry

Q said...

Hi Mari-Nanci,
I wonder if any one notices my Father's roses. I wonder if they are even still growing.
Sometimes we will stop at my Grandmother's old house and look at her peonies. It is three hours away so we only get there when we decorate the graves.
She would have never thought those peonies would mean so much to me.
I am growing many plants that once were in my parents yard and my Grandmother's. I just don't have any of her peonies.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Mary,
I understand.
I hope you are walking with me!
We might need a yard boy to pick us some flowers and bring us iced tea!
I can do 110! Would be ever so interesting.
Sherry