Feather on the screen Part 2

So today marks the anniversary of my Mother's passing.  14 years ago today.  And I get another feather on the screen.  Coincidence?   No such thing.  Not anymore ...  This blog should challenge you to live with purpose and knowing.  Live beyond faith.

FOURTEENTH ANNIVERSARY FEATHER

It was Sunday, June 14, 1998, that I found a large feather on a rock bed in our back yard.  Because of my attendance at a recent retreat on Grief where I heard numerous folks talking about feathers and asking each other, "Did you find a feather?" I knew the feather had some significance.  To be perfectly honest, I had no clue what the significance was.  I just knew it was a smart thing to pick up the feather and put it somewhere for safe keeping, and I did.

Two days later, on June 16, 1998, Roberta, my wife, who was close to passing over to the next life, asked me to do her a favor.  When I asked her what she wanted me to do, she said, "Will you get me a feather?"  Whoa!  Why was she asking and boy was I lucky.  Because I had a feather, and I hung it from the ceiling for her to see.  This part of the story has already been told here on this blog site JUNE 14, 1998: THE "FIRST" FEATHER.  Check it out.  It's an awesome read and all the other entries on this site are connected to this event.

Well, so today is June 16, 2012, the fourteenth anniversary of Roberta asking for a feather.  Today, on my 6 mile walk, I went back and forth about what route to take, what streets to go up and down, what Cul de sac's to take, just how far to walk in the first place, and on and on.  I never figure any of it out ahead of time.  I just start walking.  So about a mile and a half into the walk, I'm making a decision.  Do I go up Mountain View and come back down Vineyard, the street we lived on when we first came to Yucaipa?  Back and forth, yes, no, yes, no, and finally yes.  And as I trudge up Mountain View, there on the ground in front of me is a fresh feather.  That's it in the picture above.

It left me a little breathless and excited.  I was really surprised.  So, Roberta, you're still watching out for us, letting us know that you too remember what day it is.  Wow!  And I hope someday you will tell us what prompted you in the first place to ask for a feather.  Did you plan this out all along?  I bet you did.

Well, thanks, Love, for the feather.  What a gift! what a Father's Day gift!

I miss you so and will be thinking of you tomorrow on Father's Day when David and I will be together with Neff and her family and with very special people in my life.  And then again on Monday, we will be remembering your special day of passing over.  A celebration for you, a loss for us, but we also join in on the celebration as well.  I will always remember having dinner that night with Dan and the waiter coming to offer us bread when the meal was completely over and absolutely refusing to leave until we took the bread.  I know that was you offering us your bread, your Eucharist, and I have felt your presence in my life ever since.  Looking forward to seeing you again.  Thanks again for the special feather today.

Feather in the morning...

Sky blue pink in the evening! 

Always a blessing to know you're being look upon.

Tiny Feather On The Screen Door!

Wow... 

"There are no ordinary moments. "

-Dan Millman

Thanks for saying hi today mom.  As always your is perfect. 

Yet Another Timely Feather...

Right on the welcome mat!  Right now.   Go figure!

Angels In The Outfield

Long time no post!

Perfect day to find a feather.

Christmas Feather

Got my Christmas Feather this morning...

Marry Christmas Alice Ruedy

Marry Christmas Alice Ruedy is a Hub I wrote based on an experience I had recently in an antique store.  On the right here is Alice Ruedy.  In this Hub, I will tell you how Alice and I met.  This story, to say this least is quite fitting for this blog as we explore our connection with the other side.  I know my Mother smiled big on this one...  give the story a gander and see if it doesn't make you smile as well.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Steve Jobs Last Words On Earth

"Oh Wow, Oh Wow, Oh Wow."

These are the final words of Steve Jobs.  Craig Brown at Mail on line called it clever.  I'm thinking it's a little move then clever, but what do I know?  He went on to say:

"Wow: There is something touching about the way Steve Jobs managed to bring the same sense of wonderment to death as he did to life"

Now we're talking!  We get this since of wonderment and also learned of this wonderful way to go from his biological sister, Mona Simpson.  She was present at his passing and gave the eulogy.  According to Fox News and The Associated Press, Simpson remembered his final moment, with Jobs glancing toward his family. 
“Before embarking, he’d looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life’s partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them,” she recalled. “Steve’s final words were, Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

So for all of us who've lost someone near and dear, "Oh Wow, oh wow, oh wow" carries a serious implication and significant ray of hope.  

For the skeptics who've given up, this is simply the body shutting down and the brain randomly firing and it must be sheer coincidence that he would say those specific words at that specific time.

Skeptics, I suppose you have a case.  I often wonder about it myself.  What if this really is all there is?  Even now, I have enough feathers to reconstruct a bird sanctuary and I still question.  Why?  Because we are human.  We have it in our nature.  

True believers and Christians, I say to you now, if you're not willing to accept that it's normal and human to question the existence of God and the afterlife, I tell you that you are hypocrites and diminishing the very sacrifice Jesus made.  

There can be no faith with out doubt.

"Because you have seen me you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  Jesus Christ.  John 20:29

Let's turn to Wayne Dyer for a second too.  In his book, The Power of Intention, Wayne lists off the last words of people he's long admired.

Allow me to share a few:

"Ram, Ram, Ram" -Gandhi

"It is very beautiful over there." -Thomas Edison

"I am going to that country which I have all my life wished to see."  -William Blake

Which brings me to some of the final words of my mother.  Prior to her passing, I started noting the things she was saying.  Now, more than ever is an excellent time to share them...

"I want you to be cautious and careful of our world." 

"I want to go home."  She said that a few times.

She told my Grandmother, "I have a secret.  I've been there once.  But I didn't know what to do, so I came back."

One night, about four days before she passed, she nearly shot up in her bed  and said, "Harry?!?!"  That was my Grandfather on my father's side.  "Bring my mom and dad here."  She ordered.  Moments later she say's, "I have to get up and get dressed."

Some day, I'll put all of the notes of those weeks on here, but for now, just know this...

Skeptics, you're choosing to be skeptical because you're still pissed off over the Santa Clause incident.  It's safer for you not to believe and I'd like to invite you to start looking around your world and start wondering in the marvel of life and your infinite nature.  

So to bring this whole thing around full circle, I will quote Steve Jobs from the commencement address at the top.

"Stay hungry.  Stay Foolish."

Some have an evening star...

Tonight I have an evening feather.

ALL HALLOWS EVE FEATHER - by Vern

I was on the road quite early this morning, traveling into the dark greyish morning sky just before sunset. I was on my way to an early morning 12 step meeting. Knowing that it was All Hallows Eve, I spent some time chatting with Roberta. Asking her questions, making some amends as well, asking her favors, of course! And then, how coincidental is this, I rarely visit Roberta's grave, but today, my life's journey literally took me by the cemetery, so, of course, I stopped. As I stood at her grave, I reflected back on my early morning conversation and started to laugh and said out loud, "You know, for all the times I have visited your grave, there's never been a feather here." The words were hardly out of my mouth and right there on the grass next to the top left corner of her marker was this little feather. Then a train whistle sounded TWICE!! So what do you think? Thanks to all my loved ones who continue to watch out for me. Boo! Trick or treat! And, Dad, I wish I had a set of stairs I could block with a wet paint sign just to honor you and everything about you! The things I understand now, but perhaps then, didn't, and the things I still don't get!!

Thank you cousin Liz!

Thank you so much for this. I keep forgetting to say thank you.

I love when feathers show up in ways that were completely unexpected and with attached wisom is like a bonus prize!

Goes just perfect next to this globe. Thanks again.

Outside for air

And right in front of the bus stop on the ground... 

Feather in the House!

How did that get in here? Holy smoke!

Our Gate... A daily reminder to drive careful.

Only a mother would do this...

See, as you get closer...

Something comes into view...

Just a simple reminder...

To be careful out there amongst the English.

Thanks mom!

Early. Before Work.

not alone today... as I took this one a train whistle fired off WAY in the distance...

Another one, right in the way too...

FWD: Hey! I was just walked outside and this was staring at me.

"Hey! I was just walked outside and this was staring at me. I don't think I have ever told you this...  I didn't know your mom well but I was so blessed to spend time with her while grandpa was dying. She was so wonderful and warm and just exuded kindness and acceptance.  I will never forget your mom and I think of her often. I feel so honored to receive feathers from her from time to time..."

From Liz.

Dad's Feather

This one was right in my path at the front door to the office building I work in right as I was trying to call my dad...