“Summertime and the livin’ is easy,”, croons Ella Fitzgerald from the 1934 opera, “Porgy and Bess”. As July fades into August, this easy living is on my mind as holidays and the open road beckons me from the routine and tedium of everyday living. As part of my personal summer renewal, I availed myself of the freedom and opportunity to visit family and friends after the long COVID siege. Soon, I found myself packed and making my way north down the highways and byways to visit my sister and brother-in-law as well as planning a side trip to spend a little time with a dear friend.
My sister and brother-in-law’s home is always a haven of peace and serenity. We enjoyed tasty meals, relaxing days, and leisurely walks along the Saugeen River with its lush flora and fauna. On our Saturday morning outing, we spied a magnificent blue heron with its long legs planted firmly in the shallow water, searching to surprise an unsuspecting fish.
On Saturday evening, stretched yoga-style on the living room floor, I felt on my back the silent, warm paws of gorgeous Sparky, the resident feline. After a few steps, she stretched her purring self along the entire length of my back where she rested, and finally rolled to a waiting mat where she curled up and drifted off to sleep. There, is a cat that knows how to relax.
Too soon, on Sunday afternoon I headed home after a wonderful summer visit. En route, I stopped to reconnect with a special friend from my teenage years. Linda and her husband Joe were waiting to greet me with open arms and a warm welcome. What could be more refreshing than sitting under the shade of gracious maple trees sipping iced tea and eating oatmeal cookies?
Soon their daughters arrived with children in tow to enjoy a swim in their beautiful backyard pool. As we greeted each other and chatted, the young women were awed to realize that their mother and I had been friends for almost 60 years. Even I was taken aback that six decades of caring and sharing had passed so quickly.
Driving home, I hummed a little ditty I had learned in elementary school: “Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold.” As the sun set on my weekend excursion, I thanked God for peaceful summer spaces, the gift of family, and the treasure of faithful friends.
-Sister Jean Moylan, csj | Sister Jean has been a Sister of St. Joseph for 54 years.
““Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold.””