It took nearly 12 hours to get there thanks to some more typ Delta delays (I think their slogan is "We're NOT ready when you are") but we made it home safe and sound Friday nite (6/11). Her own house. Her own cats. Her own bathroom. Her own coffee cup. And especially her own bed.
The familiar sound of quiet. All the birds singing from the deck and wetlands. Gone is the rushing waves of the Pacific. But also gone is the busy sounds of Manhattan Beach; Construction on the houses behind us. Loud laughing of beach-goers passing by on the streets. The rumble of underground continental plate-shifting.
One of the great anxieties of this whole trip was lifted in the process. The daughters have been working very hard all year at Compass Fine Arts Dance Academy and the Gala celebration was this Saturday 6/12. Any mother longs to see their child perform and celebrate all their hard work and express themselves artistically. For a long time it was looking like we were going to miss it, a real heartbreak it would have been.
ga·la: \ˈgā-lə, ˈga-, ˈgä-1 : a festive celebration; especially : a public entertainment marking a special occasion.
In a way it not only marked the special occasion of all their work in dance and music, but it marked the end of a chapter in Dana's life as she returned home happy and smiling. The tumor is (mostly) gone, it was benign, she has no trach scar and can breathe by herself, and she got to see her daughters at the Gala.
God is indeed good. We asked for a clear and straight path. There were bumps in the road but you can't see them when you're looking ahead.
One glance around the audience you can see people are missing. A lot less dancers than last year. Joel wasn't there to greet us at the door. His passing was honored and celebrated. Last year my father came up to congratulate the director and staff for the music and performance, all the Russian music his mother used to play when he was a child. Just a few months later, he passed on.
And yet God is praised, for He is worthy. There is heartbreak all around us. As hard as it may seem, life goes on.
And the waves unceasingly crash.
And the waves unceasingly crash.
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