tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post1694417187195915442..comments2024-03-23T20:52:19.525-06:00Comments on An Alaskan in Yucatán: Contentment: The Splendor of Each DayMarc Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-17893075142990140162012-06-01T19:44:28.040-05:002012-06-01T19:44:28.040-05:00Thanks for reading and commenting, Sara.Thanks for reading and commenting, Sara.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-48350434984997437392012-06-01T11:58:55.673-05:002012-06-01T11:58:55.673-05:00What a beautiful and touching post Marc. I think y...What a beautiful and touching post Marc. I think you are very wise to incorporate the beauty in your life into your grieving process. I'm so sorry for your loss.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10707196505818823372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-72519136069589036712012-05-31T22:10:34.426-05:002012-05-31T22:10:34.426-05:00I am so sorry about your mother. Reading that she ...I am so sorry about your mother. Reading that she passed made me cry, as I am waiting for my father to move on and hoping he can soon find some peace. Your reminder to pay attention is exactly what I needed. This is an exquisite post. Your writing is so beautiful and it touches my heart. Thank you.lynettehttp://www.bigassbelle.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-46665820951094659702012-05-31T12:49:55.606-05:002012-05-31T12:49:55.606-05:00You're right, now I don't think it lessens...You're right, now I don't think it lessens the memory of my friend but enriches it and puts it in a larger context, where bad things exist but they exist among all the other wondrous things of the world—often small, and largely unnoticed things.Las Abuelashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04912116374412662537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-7933126172141250682012-05-30T12:33:43.803-05:002012-05-30T12:33:43.803-05:00"Already, I feel a nostalgia for today even a..."Already, I feel a nostalgia for today even as I live it."<br /><br />I've often had that unusual feeling and never had words for it. Thank you for describing how it feels to experience beauty or peace... and wonder at how you'll miss it. Almost like a topsy-turvy in time. <br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-9268549167090501532012-05-30T11:22:59.254-05:002012-05-30T11:22:59.254-05:00Beautiful post. You are absolutely correct in you...Beautiful post. You are absolutely correct in your thoughts about today being a beautiful day. Every day is beautiful. You just have to sometimes seek out the beauty and just go from there.<br /><br />Chin up! It's another beautiful day.Merida Mikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10523207460815870595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-804567350500527392012-05-30T09:34:45.180-05:002012-05-30T09:34:45.180-05:00Marc,
Thank you for writing just what I needed to...Marc,<br /><br />Thank you for writing just what I needed to hear today. After getting caught up in certain unpleasantries, it brings me back to a place of peace.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954933541900671235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-62141797718410836412012-05-29T22:24:37.247-05:002012-05-29T22:24:37.247-05:00What you write always makes me feel peaceful, Than...What you write always makes me feel peaceful, Thank you. Glad to know you're doing ok.Sara and Tyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-19146978003371562262012-05-29T21:01:42.920-05:002012-05-29T21:01:42.920-05:00Carolyn, I assume that you no longer find the asso...Carolyn, I assume that you no longer find the association disturbing, and it shouldn't be. I suspect that holding the kitten, a tiny vulnerable life in your hands, was comforting. It helped you with your shock and grief, much the way remembering the beautiful day my mother died helps me with mine.<br /><br />After Mom passed, my brother and sister and I were sort of at loose ends, so we went to the beach and swam together. I see it now as a kind of cleansing or a baptism into a new life without our mother. I don't feel badly that it's also a part of the memory that that day. Mom loved the beach. It seemed just the right thing to do...just like going home that evening and eating a huge meal of comfort food -- salad and lasagne -- just the kind of thing we might have eaten at home with our parents years ago.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-33492950541619189732012-05-29T20:55:25.840-05:002012-05-29T20:55:25.840-05:00I agree. Contentment is up to us, but we can't...I agree. Contentment is up to us, but we can't find it in a vacuum. The people we surround ourselves with make all the difference.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-39900525781567197852012-05-29T20:45:57.156-05:002012-05-29T20:45:57.156-05:00I am pleased the post gave you something to think ...I am pleased the post gave you something to think about. As a writer I can't hope for more than that.<br /><br />Along the lines of your thinking, I lost several friends my age many years ago (they were in their 20's or 30's), and often have thought that each day I live longer than they is a gift. My mother lived a long and full life, so although losing her is very sad, it's not the same as the death of someone much younger.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-82634456811974759092012-05-29T20:27:03.288-05:002012-05-29T20:27:03.288-05:00It is amazing how that happens, when a close frien...It is amazing how that happens, when a close friend of mine died suddenly when I was about 17, I remember spending the evening in a horrible place of shock, disbelief and grief but I have another memory of that night equally poignant of holding a little kitten and feeling his little heartbeat. i think I found that disturbing for a long time, that the memory of that kitten was forever connected with his death.Las Abuelashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04912116374412662537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-55137572129715688392012-05-29T17:36:37.721-05:002012-05-29T17:36:37.721-05:00Contentment -- up to us... as we grow older a less...Contentment -- up to us... as we grow older a lesson well learned. But the roles of our supportive friends and family, can be immeasurable. And in those low times, sometimes irreplaceable.Andeannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-77636770881872567222012-05-29T17:07:23.675-05:002012-05-29T17:07:23.675-05:00Your post has really touched me. How I wish I stil...Your post has really touched me. How I wish I still had my parents. They have been gone along time, passing so young. Now I am their age and each day longer I live is a gift. Thank you for writing this. I will be thinking of it for days.Carlos Q and Pat Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16773142238403264658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-22304896824133094892012-05-29T16:43:39.310-05:002012-05-29T16:43:39.310-05:00Thanks, Alinde. Yes, life does fill in the low spo...Thanks, Alinde. Yes, life does fill in the low spots, if we just let it. <br /><br />I prefer to believe that dragonflies do play. Maybe I won't Google that and just let it be...Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-61951455607883108242012-05-29T16:41:31.841-05:002012-05-29T16:41:31.841-05:00And you, Steve, are a fine example of one who take...And you, Steve, are a fine example of one who takes full advantage of what life has to offer. I have stolen a page or two from your book, er, blog.<br /><br />I might add that having read the book by Nuland made the process of being in hospice with a loved one much more understandable. I recommend How We Die heartily.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-6571241864476084872012-05-29T16:37:01.627-05:002012-05-29T16:37:01.627-05:00Thank you Debi. These kinds of moments, and living...Thank you Debi. These kinds of moments, and living with my friends in this community of Mérida make things much easier.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-5597991654734651172012-05-29T15:20:38.321-05:002012-05-29T15:20:38.321-05:00Lovely, as always, Marc. Nature does counter so m...Lovely, as always, Marc. Nature does counter so many ills and disappointments, doesn't it? Do dragon flys play? Probably. My dogs play, as does my loro; so why not a dragonfly?Alindehttp://lingobylingo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-71581155110023802522012-05-29T15:04:01.027-05:002012-05-29T15:04:01.027-05:00I missed the news about your mother. It added a b...I missed the news about your mother. It added a bittersweet subtext to this beautiful post.<br /><br />I immediately recognized the quotation. <i>How We Die</i> is one of those books that has had a deep impact on my life. And our acceptance that death is an inevitable part of our lives is what liberates us to enjoy what we have now.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-88524747045752043382012-05-29T14:54:28.547-05:002012-05-29T14:54:28.547-05:00That was/is lovely, I know you struggle with the l...That was/is lovely, I know you struggle with the loss of your mom, these moments make all things bearable!Debi in Meridahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10763731716351347254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-77793956886550894912012-05-29T14:52:10.275-05:002012-05-29T14:52:10.275-05:00Thank you, Nancy. I hope to see you -- here or the...Thank you, Nancy. I hope to see you -- here or there -- one of these days soon.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-69307898708021966972012-05-29T14:51:02.786-05:002012-05-29T14:51:02.786-05:00Beautiful day, beautiful friends. Who could ask fo...Beautiful day, beautiful friends. Who could ask for more? Thanks, Babs.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-45321985039223155232012-05-29T14:50:20.531-05:002012-05-29T14:50:20.531-05:00Thanks for sharing that Joanne, and thanks for you...Thanks for sharing that Joanne, and thanks for your friendship and support.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-84737274746258321412012-05-29T14:32:54.614-05:002012-05-29T14:32:54.614-05:00Take care, Marc. You really are a treasure.Take care, Marc. You really are a treasure.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15016075941355264454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277313567524932904.post-41601449499961341612012-05-29T14:20:57.679-05:002012-05-29T14:20:57.679-05:00Beautiful post Marc - thanks.Beautiful post Marc - thanks.Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.com