I had a full-spectrum Valentine’s weekend. There were some twinges of sadness, yes; but for the most part, it was filled with happy smiles and lots of love.
On Valentine’s Day, my husband treated my sister, a very good friend, and me to High Tea at Victorian Manor. Why yes, he did look a little bit silly pouring tea into a gilt-edged tea cup, while perching precariously on the edge of a beribboned, lavender-painted chair! But was his masculinity threatened by the flowery tea pots and gauzy decorations? No way. “This is heaven,” he said. “I’m surrounded three beautiful women!” And that, my friends, is but one example of why he’s the man of my dreams.
Also this weekend, my siblings and I piled into an SUV and traveled Historic Route 66. It was a trip down memory lane—and a road to healing for all of us. A Sunday road trip seemed to us a fitting final tribute to our father, the itinerant preacher.
We ambled from No Place to Nowhere, swapping stories about the countless times we’d squished together in the back seat, hurtling from one state to another, and from one tent revival to the next. Then we scattered my father’s ashes along a portion of that old highway—among the Joshua trees and tumbleweeds, between the rusted railroad trestle and the crumbling asphalt.
When we headed back to the car, a metal object glinting in the sunshine caught my eye. I scraped away some sand with my shoe—and look! A vintage side view mirror! Perhaps it was because my heart and mind were wide-open at that point, but that roadside artifact seemed to me a profound metaphor.
My sisters, brothers and I spent a very full day looking back on all the times we’d climbed into the back seat of my father’s car. And after his ashes were scattered and each of us had said our piece, I climbed into the driver’s seat and drove us safely home.
You did it. I’ve been thinking of you and your siblings, wondering if you’d take that trip soon. It sounds as if you all came full circle, both physically and emotionally. I’m so glad they could do that with you and that you could share stories and speak your piece.
Wow. That SUV must’ve been filled to the brim with emotions and memories.
Your husband is definitely a keeper. I got a great image of him perched on the delicate furniture, pouring tea. What a guy.
Yes, we did it! And it was an amazing experience.
And yes, my husband’s a real renaissance guy. He’s definitely a keeper! 🙂
I’m glad you all made it a time of memory and celebration — and I’m glad you’re home again!
Thanks, Robin. The idea for my father’s memorial service came to me in a dream, and I’m so glad it worked out well in reality.
It really all is a journey, isn’t it.
A memoir writer who has been looking back finds a rear-view mirror.. interesting.
Keeping you in my thoughts.
Yes, it is! And whoa, finding that mirror seemed so…poetic. I had to take a picture to prove that it really happened.
I feel your thoughts and I’m grateful for them–and you.
Wow, M. This sounds like the perfect way to pay tribute to your father.
Thanks, T. The idea came to me in a dream a while back. I’m glad that it resonated with all my siblings, and that it worked out so well in reality.
What a beautiful way to spend the day.
Oh, it was. We shared lots of laughter and tears, and we all came away with a sense of peace.
Wow. Beautiful post. You find symbolism in everything–love the rear-view mirror and this:
And after his ashes were scattered and each of us had said our piece, I climbed into the driver’s seat drove us safely home.
You were in control and you drove safely home.
Consider adding this post as an epilogue to CAN I GET A WITNESS. It’s perfect.
Perfect icon, B. 🙂
Ha! My secret’s out (as if I could hide it…): I do tend to find symbolism in everything. Maybe that’s because I was raised on metaphors and parables from the Bible?
And as for the epilogue…hmmm, what an intriguing thought! I had thought about the metaphor of my being in the driver’s seat (are you surprised?), but I can see how using this adventure as an epilogue would tie things up really well. Thanks so much–I’m definitely considering it!
Thank you for sharing that journey.
Thank you for coming with me.
How lovely! *hugs*
Thank you! It was a very full weekend.
*hugs you back*
Love, road trip, tea (and let’s hope cake): even a metaphor by the road. Don’t think you could ask for more. Hugs to you.
Tea sandwiches and scones. Yummy!
It was all that I could have imagined, and more.
Thanks for the hugs and sweet thoughts. *hugs you back*
Oh, what a beautiful post. I’m so glad you could take this healing trip with your siblings, Melodye. And how perfect to find the side view mirror where many a time you watched your life disappearing whether or not you wanted it…and now you can look back from a place of serenity and love and know that you’ve found your home, both within and without. (And with such a wonderful tea-pouring husband!)
hugs and love xo
It was a beautiful, love-filled weekend, Lorraine, and I know that you understand all that it meant for me and for my siblings.
Finding that side-view-mirror was shivery-magic. I couldn’t believe my eyes at first, but then…well, I believe in signs and miracles, even if I’m not always sure of the source.
*hugs and love–lots of both*
I agree with Barb–epilogue material here. :>)
Sounds like a very meaningful weekend.
It was an incredible weekend, full of love and healing and rich metaphors. And while I saw the significance of being in the driver’s seat (and the side-view mirror, whoa), I hadn’t thought of including this experience in an epilogue. Thanks for giving me your thoughts on that. I’m definitely considering it!!
What a fitting way to end that chapter of *your* story! ::HUGS::
Tea at the Victorian Manor sounds absolutely lovely!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to you, too!
You’re close enough to have tea at the Victorian Manor sometime. If not there, I’m sure there are teahouses near you. I highly recommend having High Tea once in a while. You’ll feel so pampered, which you deserve. 🙂
And yes, it did seem a fitting end to that chapter of my life.
Nice. I’m glad you and your siblings took the time for that trip together.
Thanks, Kelly. I’m glad that they wanted to share this experience, and I appreciate being able to tell the story to you afterward.
I think gnomes might have placed that side view mirror in my path. 🙂
I love that, after scattering your fathers ashes among the Joshua trees and tumbleweeds, you found that mirror. What a perfect ending to a day of looking backwards. It sounds as if it was a wonderfully healing trip for all of you.
And yes, your husband id definitely a “keeper”!!
Isn’t it magical? I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw first it. But *of course* something as metaphorically significant as that would present itself. It always happens that way when your heart and mind are open to possibilities, doesn’t it?
I’m incredibly fortunate to be loved by someone as amazing as my husband.
PS I love your new icon. Gorgeous!
Wow. Your post gave me chills. I love the circles of life. It’s funny how we always try to find signs to help us get through life but that they only come to us when we least expect them (and probably need them most).
And I HEART your husband. What a guy! A big pinkie *up* to him 😉
I believe you’re right that signs and wonders come our way when we most need them. But we have to have open hearts and eyes, so that we can notice (and appreciate) them. Magic and/or miracle…that sideview mirror was an incredibly meaningful symbol for me.
And hahaha on the upturned pinkie for my hubby! So. Perfect. 🙂
It sounds like a perfect Valentine’s day and a lovely way to close the circle with your father.
I am glad you are surrounded by so much love.
It *was* a full-circle moment. You are such a sensitive soul, Susan, to have seen that…
We all need (and deserve) lots of love. I am grateful–very much so–to be surrounded by such abundance. xoxo
Sounds like a wonderful time, Melodye. I’m so glad that you were able to find some peace and healing out there. And the mirror most definitely seems like an apt metaphor.
Peace and healing to you, my friend.
By the by… your husband sounds like a great guy! Hang on to him!