Moonlight of October

I opened the door to the deck to see what this summer morning presented for outdoor sitting in my glider as I enjoyed my coffee.  A glance upward through the trees at the dark night sky, displayed the beautiful Moon hovering over the fields. I love the celestial scenes that present themselves so early in the morning as they create a beauty that captivates my mind and soul. The solitude of the early morning and nature’s exhibits become a sanctuary for me and allows me to ‘shut the door’ on current happenings and reminisce and experience renewed energy.

The Moon, it’s brilliant light replayed an indelibly etched memory. It is a picture of an October evening after I had brought my Momma to stay with me as she recovered from a hospitalization due to pneumonia in the middle of her battle with cancer. The Moon glowed brightly that evening as I stepped out of my car to go to the pharmacy and pick up the medication that my Momma needed. So brilliant were the stars in the night sky and the Moon took its place reflecting light from the sun. You see, the Moon doesn’t have any light of its own…neither do we unless the Son Light lives in us. 

“Momma, if you feel you can endure sitting up for the time it takes to shampoo your hair and then long enough for a home perm, I’ll be glad to do it for you.” “Yes, honey, I can do it, she answered.”

Momma always enjoyed a new “do”. (looking farther back), Several years before her passing and before the cancer struck her, I drove to her house, an hour away, on her birthday because I wanted to take her to see a movie that she would relate to very closely because she knew some of the people in that movie and lived near them in Coalwood. Daddy left Mt. Airy NC and went to Coalwood to work for George L. Carter and as a result, he and Momma met. I included their story in my memoir. The movie is October Sky. And I also wanted to take her for a salon experience of having a fresh hairdo. Then we went to lunch in the mall.  We had an emotional/spiritual lift that day.

Back to the home perm.  I arranged everything to make her comfortable while I shampooed and gently massaged her hair.  I had curlers and perm solution ready, so I began the curling and all the while asking her if she was comfy, well as much as anyone could be in her condition.

We made it through the process that included light conversation and once the perm was complete, Momma raved about the transformation her auburn hair had undergone. I knew that the hands- on time and Father’s Spirit in me did His work. After getting her all gussied up as we like to say, her face radiated with a freshness that seemed to emerge from deep within.

Heart stirring reflections cause me to embrace the beauty of my Momma. From a very young age, it seems, I was able to sense her times of grief and anguish over the storms of life.

When I learned that my Momma had cancer that had metastasized to her bones. I knew she would be in great pain and would need to be cushioned wherever she sat or lay. At that time squishy character cushions were popular, made of stretchy fabric and filled with tiny beads. I knew it would be perfect for my Momma; she would have something on which to rest her arms... all I could find was Nemo, a banana-shaped and a round cushion. I bought all three! Over time I gave thanks often that I was led to buy them because she used them while sitting and she placed them around her when she went to bed, and she used them until she passed. Memories that I cherish, that bring a smile along with the tears.

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