July 1, 2016: Eric’s Heaven on Earth

Aunt Donna is amazing! She is the matriarch of the family who seems to be able to care for others more than I thought was possible. She verged on spoiling Eric when he was here on the farm, and she is trying her best to do the same for Anya. I get a good share too!

Unfortunately, Anya is still sick and cycling through fevers, so she’s laying low. While Anya slept in, Donna and I talked and talked. She showed me her last hardanger project.

We were able to enter into a deep conversation together that centered on loss. She has lost a husband, a son, and a cherished nephew in addition to parents and brother and other extended family. There were tears that welled up several times, but we shared the gift of empathy and the invitation to be with each other without any discomfort of experiencing tears. Through my journey of losing Eric, I have learned that shared tears are a precious gift.

When Anya was feeling better, she was able to take the golf cart around the farm.

We had 10 minutes of playing farm girl, helping out first cousin once-removed, Jim.

In the afternoon, we had cream puffs that Donna made in the morning. Afterwards, I went with Donna to water the flowers on the graves.

We were last here for the interment in 2011, but the stone was set in later. We had seen pictures, but this was the first time seeing the stone in place by uncle Duke and cousin Dave.

Donna also had some photo albums with pictures of little Eric, coming out to Issaquah for our wedding, and pictures of our several visits out here.

Eric was also known for eating popsicles, and Donna made sure that plenty were available for Anya too. In addition to memories of Eric, the cold popsicles felt good on Anya’s sore throat.

My evening was spent sitting around the table talking with various family members. The kitchen table is the center of heaven on earth here.

With blessings,

Beth