It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way-- Charles Dickens
With the new year approaching I find like many that I must put the passing year into prospective.
It was the season of Darkness.... This past year and a half I have felt like I have been living in quicksand, always one second away from going under. There truly were moments of "this is the the worst of times, it can't possibly get worse", and then it did. Six months after we lost my mom to cancer my dad passed away on their 55th wedding anniversary, two days before Christmas in 2011. It was a year of unbearable heartbreak and loss.
It was the spring of hope.....Just like you read in a novel, in the middle of despair there is always a glimmer of hope. It's that rope extended to you just before the quicksand engulfs you. On the anniversary of my mom's passing my son and daughter-in-law found out they were expecting their first child. I will admit I don't have a clear understanding of the afterlife and if I even believe in such but I did feel like it was my parents saying to me enough tears- life goes on...... it was now the season of light.
So as this year passes I have come to the realization that what I have experienced is just the circle of life. While I have lost my parents I am about to have my first grandchild, a little girl. I have a husband who I love and who loves me, three incredible children, a daughter-in-law my son was smart enough to marry and we adore, amazing siblings who give me strength, plus great friends. All of whom helped me see the light when I thought I was in total darkness.
It is a circle full of darkness and light on any given day, and I have to just pray it is more hope and light, only time will tell........
