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On Saturday, before Grandaddy's memorial service,
we took the girls to the Bog Garden in Greensboro, NC.
~ fallen seed pods from a big beautiful magnolia tree ~
Granmama and Grandaddy lived just up the road
from Bicentennial Gardens and the Bog Garden.
~ a bunny hopping by the creek gets everyone's attention ~
During my childhood visits,
we walked there from their house.
I remember it being three miles,
not three blocks.
~ beautiful boardwalk through a swampy area ~
I remember Grandaddy taking me to feed the ducks
and that there were a million catfish.
~ "i hear ducks quacking!" ~
Even though it has been many years,
I can still hear the sound of their mouths slapping at the surface
and seeing their whiskered faces all over the surface of the water.
~ "we found them!" ~
The girls have already connected "ducks" with their GP.
~ domestic and domestic-wild hybrids ~
His home is filled with ducks of all sorts.
And they loved playing with them during their visits.
~ feeding time ~
Looking out on those ducks
and remembering the time we spent there
with a heel of stale Wonderbread
was laughing and crying at the same time.
~ more ducks and a more better camera color setting ~
Seeing the girls so quickly move on with Life
after his passing
brought me comfort
because they too saw his Spirit everywhere.
~ nope, i wasn't feeding them again ~
Especially in the ducks.
~ brief stop at bicentennial gardens ~
We ate some snacks, had some water.
And meandered back to his memorial service.
~ "these are for GG" ~
~ "do you think she'll like them?" ~
It was beautiful and comforting.
Lela sat in her Pop's lap.
Liv fell asleep in her Gran's arms.
Watching the girls run around, and laugh and dance
after the service
brought so much joy and peace.
They weren't worried.
And in that moment, neither was I.
carrie
