Purple Heather

I'm going to follow a fellow blogger's lead and make a list. That way I'll get a post up and perhaps some clarity to my thoughts. And maybe I'll get some feedback from you. Here goes:

1. Sophie is still not doing well. Day to day is getting really hard. I mean just thinking about the day and being thankful if it's a good day. I know that I should but I'm finding it hard to maintain.

2. I've heard of two very sick little babies, one who is fighting for her life and another who lost hers. And both parents of these two little babies have enormous faith.

3. My son had his first reconciliation yesterday, and I went to confession for the first time in over thirty years. I confessed to feeling despair, which I understand is a grave sin. I know this is supposed to be between you and the priest and I take the risk of offending my devout Catholic readers, but here goes. The priest told me to spend more time with my children as my penance. How weird is that? I don't think I'll be going to confession any time soon again.

4. I'm taking Sophie to The Neurologist this week and we're discussing A New Drug. We haven't tried a new drug in over seven years (mainly because there weren't any to try but also because after the last horrendous trial, I swore that I would only try another drug if Jesus himself offered it to us).

5. Hope springs eternal. Because I actually do hope that the new drug will be the one.

6. I have a 5,000 word entry for a literary contest to finish tonight. It's actually the first three chapters of my book and it needs to be postmarked tomorrow. I'm never this last minute, but I'm going to do it.

7. I played basketball with Henry and Oliver this afternoon, and it was exhilarating. I'm a terrible athlete and hate sports, in general, but I channeled my inner Tar Heel and the boys were impressed.

7. I listened to Van Morrison today and when I closed my eyes and drifted, I remembered some things, a life long ago, my hair falling down my back and dreams, leaves gently turning, a wooden tower and wild mountain thyme. And that was good.

Purple Heather
by Van Morrison (Hard Nose the Highway)

Well the summertime has gone
And the leaves are gently turnin
And my love I wanna take you
To the place heart-a-yearnin
Will you go, lassie go

And we'll all go together
In the wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will you go

And I will build my love a tower
At the foot of yonder mountain
And visit by the hour
From a lonely wooden tower
Will you go, lassie go

And we'll all go together
In the wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Come on

At the foot of yonder mountain
I will visit by the hour
With the lily of the valley
Go, will you go, lassie go

And we'll all go together
In the wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will you go, lassie go
Will you go
Will you go, will you go
Will you go, lassie go

(couldn't download the actual song, but go listen to it if you can...)