Honoring my friend

Last fall my partner and I went to hear Mary Oliver read at the State Theatre with Elaine and her partner. This morning I picked up one of Mary Oliver's books and read a poem "Why I wake Early" ... Elaine's love and appreciation of nature filled her days and filled her art. As I read Mary Oliver's poem this morning and notice the lilac buds outside the window of my writing room budding I can feel Elaine's presence. With Elaine's spirit in my heart, I begin my day in the same way Elaine always began her days..... with love, appreciation, gratitude, happiness and kindness.

Why I wake Early

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and the crotchety -

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light --
good morning, good morning, good morning.

What, how, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.