Showing posts with label Relationships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Relationships. Show all posts

Monday, October 31, 2011

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!!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

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.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Happy Birthday Mom!

Last year, my father wrote a Hub about my mom.  Today, October 8th is her birthday.  This year, she would be 75.  I'm trying to imagine what she would have looked like had she made it to 75.  Which brings me to last night's Facebook exchange.

Vernon Bradley HEY, EVERYBODY TOMORROW IS THE LADY'S BIRTHDAY. SHE WOULD BE 75. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE. I IMAGINE WE STOP AGING. SO MAYBE SHE IS NOT 75, BUT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL AGELESS WOMAN IN HEAVEN.

SO CHECK OUT THE BLOG I WROTE LAST YEAR ABOUT THE LADY AND HAVE BEEF STROGANOFF TODAY IN HER HONOR

Marianne Byers I miss Roberta. Noel's godmother.

Jacob Byers I miss her so much too, I love envisioning my kids running up to her to show her stuff, and her being there with her welcoming smile and gentle presence.

Neffertti S. Bradley I like that,a beautiful ageless woman in heaven! I thank you Roberta for David.He is a wonderful human being. He is my angel on this earth...


How lucky we all are to know you Roberta Marie O'Neill Bradley.  Thank you for making your presence known and for watching over me, my family, friends and my wife.  Thank you for showing me love, compassion, and forgiveness.  I miss being able to see you in physical form.  I miss being able to hug you.  But I still "see" you and feel your presence everyday.


Since you left this earth, you've still been teaching me.  I'm learning more about true faith, connecting to infinity and way more open.  Please keep the lessons coming...


Happy Birthday once again! 

It's 7:45 am.  Today is Doris' Funeral.  Ironic?  Let's see what the day holds...  Eyes and ears open everyone!

Friday, September 24, 2010

This one's a keeper.

More often than not I don't "keep" the feathers I find.  Considering I'm not in the pillow or mattress business and that I find enough to do so, I usually just take a picture, write a little something and then move on.  However, after seeing this one the other morning in the parking lot on my way to work, I decided to keep this one.  It was full and lovely and reminded my of an old school pen.  Like something used to sign the Declaration of Independence.

So after I took the picture I put it in my briefcase and brought it home.  Well, sometimes life get's in the way.  It stayed in the briefcase for a few days.  Easily distracted at times I let this feather hang out in the briefcase until it's new home presented itself to me.

Most of the time, the finding of a feather has some significance or meaning.  At least it does for me.  Hence this blog.  For me and for you the reader, the finding of these feathers and the reading of this blog is the Universe's (God's) way of reminding you about some principle, behavior or action.  Even something as simple as "you're not alone" or "you are loved."  These reminders are important as daily life can easily distract you from the reality that there is more out there then these 3 to 4 dimensions we experience in the physical world.

This feather was just found.  I couldn't see or hear any real reason for finding it.  Yet it was a rather large and lovely feather.  What was the meaning?  It was early on a Saturday morning, I was about to walk into work, I had been listening to an audio book called Sell to Survive, my mind was relatively clear.  I wasn't deep in thought on some specific topic.  So what's this big ol' feather all about?

Sometimes I get paranoid and wonder if it's a sign that I'm going to die soon...  How's that for an over active imagination???  When I find a feather near a cross walk, believe you me, I'm looking both ways!

But not today; not this feather.  So it goes in the briefcase waiting to find it's new home. 

A few days later, I find the spot.  I placed in on top of our CD shelf that has pictures of me and the wife.  And to make sure it doesn't blow away I rested it under a black and white salt and pepper shaker of two people embracing.  Forget the "color" aspect of it just for a second because that's too obvious.  Look at where it is.  This goes in to remind me and us the value of differences in a relationship and how two individuals can come together to form a whole.  I am unique and my wife is unique.  We function independently of each other.  I don't "need" her to survive.  She can "live" without me.  But now that we have found each other and have chosen to live our lives together, we form a unit.  Like salt and pepper.  Both good by themselves, but together, make a great combination that enhances the flavor of almost any dish. 

This feather stands out in bold relief to remind us to appreciate the healthy differences in the people we have chosen to be in our lives.  From your spouse to you co-workers to your friends and family.  Each one of us has something to bring to the table that can enhance the flavor of the relationship.  My wife brings patience, compassion, understanding, and deep, deep love that leaves me, more often than not, in awe of how blessed I am and how grateful I am that she is here to season my life to the fullest of flavors.

For those of you reading and thinking about ways to season your own relationships, you might want to add "From the Frying Pan To The Jacuzzi" to your library.  It is a very useful book my father wrote about success in relationships.  Whether you're in one now or not doesn't really matter.  What does matter is that you have the tools to succeed in not only a marriage but in all relationships you have.  If you deal with people, you have relationships.  Those people will be different from you.  How will you manage?

What I am left with here is that all feathers found have a message.  If not right away, sooner or later.  As always the key is to remain open to the message and be aware of the presence of Universe and how it will point out to you the path you need.  It will never be late and it will always arrive right on time.