Writings of Constance Ore ( 1937 – 2010 )

Extravagant blossoms of peonies grace our tables now, with the scents of lilac and honeysuckle still permeating Sanctuary. The rains have carried us into our jungle phase, so mists hang over the pasture and every growing things is filled with grandiose plans. It is the deceptive nature of Nebraska weather that dusty, dry and hot days begin to appear around the beginning of July and continue onward through August so only the hardiest of the plants survive to carry on another season. Living in the present is pure pleasure in these early days of June, and we respond accordingly.

The miracles of life go on. . . kids are out of school, friends and neighbors are traveling in different directions and the cadences of early summer days are quite lovely. I have come through several weeks of feeling “lesser”. (Hilda, my mother-in-law, had a phrase that covered it nicely; to describe not feeling well, she would reply to the query of “How are you?” with the words, “Not too whippy”. I have found that this says it well.) Yet, the blessing is that the blood counts still indicate time for more living, cooking, laughter, and grandchild monitoring. John-paul has returned from Egypt, having traveled thousands of miles and bringing many photos and stories back to share with us.

I looked back at the June 2nd entries to the Blog from 2006 and 2007 to see the progression of this new life, and Alphie was featured along with reports of health struggles that had not yet become routine. Now Alphie has become the dog I only dreamed of in 2006, when I described him with these words: “I can almost see the day when Alphie will respond calmly and with great dignity to young and old alike.” He lies at my feet and sleeps through the eloquent speech being given by Barach Obama as he accepts the nomination from the Democratic party. I don’t think I expected to see this month of June as I wrote the entries of the past two years, and I am profoundly thankful to God to be here in this place wrapped round with love and blessings heaped up and running over.