December 26, 2007
On Christmas Day in the morning, the dawn sky was more beautiful than any I have seen. The first gathering of clouds toward the east were in lavenders and pinks, and then, with a turquoise sky between, the clouds nearer to the horizon turned gold. The snow around me had a pink and gold tinge, and I have not experienced such an effect before. If one were asking for portents for the present and future, this morning would have cried out that miracles abound. Alphie, earthbound, sniffed his way along the path as usual, taking an inventory about which creatures had passed by through the night, and which ones might be resting in the clumps of grass that stand next to the path, pushing through the snow cover.
We had several children’s services on Christmas Eve day, and the big and glorious Lessons and Carols at nine in the evening; on the 25th, there were no formal worship services at First Church, so after breakfast, Charles, John-paul and I read the Christmas story out of the King James’ Bible, because the words in that translation were those that Charles and I had memorized as children, and their cadences have become shaped and rich through many repetitions in a lifetime of birthday celebrations. We sang favorite carols and exchanged gifts, and later feasted with dear friends at their home. It was a day that will remain forever framed in memory as a singularly lovely time.
Today I had my blood readings taken. . . this is done every two weeks in order to keep track of what is happening within even though there are no therapies available at this time to change the course of the disease. The very good news is that the blood counts are holding – so we are beginning to live out the miracle of that. This morning Charles and I talked about the future and decided to make plans that carry us well into 2008, because we agreed that if we think ourselves always on the edge of life’s change and end, the task of living becomes too difficult. Today, the sun is setting on another light-filled winter’s day, and it is good to contemplate the prosaic matters of a walk for Alphie and what to make for supper.
