Yes, here I am again, after a month not only away from blogging but mostly away from being online at all. A lot’s been happening, some of it good, some of it sad and stressful, and nothing is really resolved. But then life is never really resolved, and I certainly can’t hide away in my hermitage forever.
Today is All Saints’ Day (which is, of course, why Halloween is called Halloween—it’s “All Hallows’ Eve,” or the Eve of All Saints), and one of my very favorite hymns is sung as the processional on All Saints Sunday. For All The Saints is rousing and wonderful and I usually cry while I’m singing it, especially when the sopranos soar into the descant on the final verse. It also has a rich 150-year history. Part of the lyrics:
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong…
All I can do, is all I can do. I need that brave heart and those strong arms. And here and there, a little time for writing.
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I am sorry to hear that you have had such a stressful month. Getting back to your routine should help and of course those wonderful “micro walks”. Your roses are beautiful. Our back yard look better than ever after such a brutal summer. Yay, cool weather. I learned from a collegue that Lesley – Harriet Richmond – died last year. I was unable to learn anything more than that. It made me sad that she had such a short life. I have enjoyed keeping up with you on your blog and love the pictures of the new Beagles.
Helen! How good to hear from you! I’ve emailed you…