Bright Week

In some Christian traditions the week after Easter is called Bright Week. It is a whole week of continuing celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. It is the most special time of the year. ¶ Last week I wrote about the advent of spring and a phone call I received from the son of a friend. That friend and I met 61 years ago when I began singing in the Calvary Cathedral Choir as a college student. ¶ On Easter afternoon I received another call from the aforementioned son. His mother’s kidney function was deteriorating and the family had decided to move her to comfort care. I spent a few hours at the hospital with her and the family. I returned home about 8 PM and found out the next day that she had departed this life at 9:00 PM on Easter Day. Our Orthodox sisters and brothers would say that it is a special blessing to die on Easter Day. Rest in peace and rise in glory, Jeanne.

¶ Jeanne and I had carefully planned her funeral a few years ago. She was a little reluctant to do that but I explained how helpful it is to the family to have all those plans already made at a time when decisions often must be made in haste. She chose beautiful hymns and readings that spoke very much of her faith. She also specified that yours truly was to be the celebrant and preacher at her Requiem. ¶ So most of Easter week was spent in preparing for Jeanne’s funeral. It rained that day, not ferociously but gently. As we stood at the cemetery I was reminded once again of new life coming from old as the very thirsty ground received the gift from heaven. The funeral liturgy contains the phrase “for to your faithful people Lord, life is changed, not ended.” I really believe that. There was real closure at that graveside service because the family opted to remain while the casket was lowered, the vault closed and the dirt replaced. It was fitting and it was good. ¶ Jeanne was a devoted oblate of our little Benedictine community here so her death was just as if a family member had died. We miss her very much. ¶ I attended the Easter Vigil at Good Shepherd here in Sioux Falls, mainly because I’d heard rumors that they were singing once again, and they were! We actually were allowed to sing the wonderful Easter hymns. It felt so good to be able to do that after a year of it’s being forbidden. For this singer it was something I needed to do to make the feast real again.

¶ Another puzzle has been completed. This one was a challenge because several pieces fit in more than one place. After searching for a particular piece for many minutes, I would discover I was looking for the wrong thing! ¶ Spring continues to make itself known. One day this week the temperature peaked at 88 degrees! The next day we were back down to more reasonable early spring temps meaning highs of 50º. Typical South Dakota spring as I wrote last week. ¶ The garden is beginning to call to me. The call will have to become a bit more loud before I respond, but the guilt feeling is starting to make itself known. There is a lot of clean up needed, especially getting rid of dead “stuff,” and giving the new shoots some space in which to grow.

¶ One of the busiest times of the year at the Pavilion of Arts and Science is spring when many of the schools come on field trips. Last year that was a non-thing. This year business is starting to pick up again. I used to enjoy working with the students as a docent but have avoided being around them since my immune system has been compromised. My decision was confirmed affirmatively yesterday when we had several classes from one private school (of a fairly traditional, conservative background). None of the students wore masks and a very few of the teachers. Since the city mandate concerning masks was not renewed the Pavilion cannot require masks (being a city owned institution). It does highly recommend them and the staff is required to wear masks. I was happy to count the students as they entered and let others of the docent staff work with the students.

¶ Next week is chemo week again, along with a visit to the dentist and a few OLLI classes. It will be enough to keep me out of mischief, as “they” say. I still wonder who “they” are. ¶ Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, for reading and supporting and just being there should I have need of your presence. I am so grateful.