SOMEWHERE and Writing Assignment #18 Ages 1-5

I missed it again.  The day came and went like any other day. Just as it has done for the last 35 years. It fell on a Saturday this year…that day that marks the anniversary of the death of my dear Father.

 

My sister reminded me of it today. I shed a shameful tear, how could I have forgotten?  And then she reminded me of that other day many years ago when Mother stood silently and alone at his grave. With flowers from her garden filling her arms, her eyes were drawn to the date etched into his headstone. A date she had come to hate. A day to mourn. A day to feel sad that he didn’t get to enjoy retirement with her or to spend lazy days fishing with his grandsons in the nearby mountain lakes. And then she felt his voice, calm and clear, telling her that he didn’t want her to mourn that day but to celebrate it as a graduation time for him.

They believed as I do, and even more poignantly now since I have lost both of them and my dear Dale, that death is not the end. Death is really a beginning—another step forward in Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. 

Like it will be for all of us, their physical bodies died. But their spirits did not die, they went to the spirit world, where they continue to learn and progress and are with other loved ones who have passed on.  It’s not an end but a continuation.  I’m happy for them and yet, well my arms are empty.  Some days they seem to ache because they are so empty.  How many times did I use my arms to hold and to be held for them to feel such a keen sense of emptiness now?

I heard a beautiful rendition of the song “Somewhere” from West Side Story just now.  I cried as each word made perfect sense to me, more so than any other time I have heard it before. I was thinking of Dale and Dad and Mother and it gave me hope and a feeling of peace that I can wrap my arms around as I ponder… there’s a place for us, somewhere, somehow, someday we’ll be together again. A place to be together again with time to do all that we want to do.

There's a place for us, somewhere a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air wait for us somewhere.
There's a time for us, some day a time for us, time together with time to spare, time to learn, time to care, some day!
We'll find a new way of living, we'll find a way of forgiving, somewhere . . .
Hold my hand and we're halfway there.  Hold my hand and I'll take you there Somehow, Some day, Somewhere! 

Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

I know that the day will come when Dale will take my hand and take me there.  I’m not in a hurry mind you, there are things I still want to do here but someday, somehow, we’ll be together again. It’s such a beautiful thing isn’t it?

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #18 

Ages 1 -5

Remember to put your answers to these question in a conversational type of writing, don't just give quick answers to the questions.  Go ahead and give the details!! 

• What stories have you been told about yourself as a baby?
• What is your earliest memory?
• What was your favorite past time as a child (ages 1-5)
• Who were your friends during this time period?  Describe them.
• Any traumatic experiences at this time?
• Any learning experiences about life?
• Finish this sentence....Since childhood I have always had a fascination with...