Wednesday, February 08, 2012

52 Photos Project~the love letter


When my Mother first began her cancer treatment
3 1/2 years ago, I wrote her a love letter.
She has carried a copy of this letter
in her purse every day since.

For Bella and her Valentine edition of
52 Photos Project~ the love letter.


I brought pink tulips, Beloved, to distract you. To ease the cold and tingles of the clear, poison drip. I brought them, Beloved, for myself as well. To stare at during moments when biting the side of my tongue would not be enough to stave off tears. I brought pink tulips to remind us of spring and rebirth and hope and love. To remind us that, amid the painful needle sticks, the beeping, the constant motion outside your cubicle, the full house of patients enduring their own poisonous drips, there is great beauty waiting to be embraced. Within and without.

Cancer is a funny thing, isn't it Beloved? What threatens to tear us apart is also the gorilla glue that makes our hearts inseparable. What makes a body weak gives strength not seen before. Cancer offers up courage and comedy. It reduces walls to rubble. It offers the soul redemption. Its dark pathway shimmers with opportunities for light. It's a funny thing. It's a blessing. Yes. A blessing.

3 weeks from now, Beloved, the tulips will be red. They, too, will remind us of strength and beauty within and without. 7 years and 3 weeks from now, the tulips I bring will be yellow. They will remind us of the light on the path, the love on the path that led us out of darkness.

9 comments:

  1. Awesome ~ This touches my heart deeply ~ You are a wonderful daughter and I am sure your Mom is the best ~ thanks for sharing this ~ namaste, carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  2. incredibly beautiful...

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  3. Almost made me cry. I just buried a cancer victim. So sad.

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  4. Dear Graciel, these words are so heart-felt and beautiful and sincere and pure. The flowers in the photo are beautiful as well. Very moving. You are fortunate to have such a wonderful mother, and she is so lucky to have you.

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  5. Beautiful and touching dear Graciel. Daisy is right, you are so fortunate to have each other and I send you both a big bouquet of love.

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  6. Beautiful. Words sort of fail me at the moment - but what a heartfelt letter to your mama.
    xo

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  7. you got me right in the heart. pink tulips are my favorite flowers

    cancer "reduces walls to rubble". you got me a second time with that. the walls just keep the love from flowing everywhere.

    these tulips are indeed lighting the path.

    xoxoxox

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  8. tears in my eyes.

    you are just such a beautiful soul.
    xoxo

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I always appreciate the time you take to comment on my blog. Thank you for stopping by. Peace from my heart to yours. xo, Graciel