Happy Times Forever...The Inception and The Rest Of the Story

My dad, the one and only Eric

Hello There. Aunty B here to share in Steven's words, the actual inspiration behind his song, Happy Times Forever, and his connection to my dad, affectionately known to Steven as Uncle Eric and to Nixie as Papa Eric.

When I composed my last post, Our Team of Angels in Heaven Surely Missed This Christmas, I promised Steven I would correct inaccuracies which included his song and so I will begin with Yoga. In addition to teaching youngsters, he also teaches Yoga and Salsa to adults.

Steven's journey to playing the guitar; did begin with Uncle Eric buying him his first guitar,...in his own words,

 "I think I was older than 3 years old though, as I remember him saying I had an ear for music and him telling my Dad I should learn an instrument. I still have that little guitar ☺, then when Uncle Eric died I made myself a promise to learn to play the guitar one day." Note: My dad passed away in November of 1991. Steven is my father's brother, Ronnie's son.

Continuing with Steven's journey in his own words...

 "Then two and a half years ago I did my Yoga teacher training and had a strong urge to put melodies to all the beautiful mantras we were using. So I fixed an old guitar of my Dad's and began learning, about a year and half ago I had written melodies to the mantra's but thought it maybe a good idea to write some songs. The song I played for you was one of the first songs I wrote. Happy Times Forever came after reflecting on loss during meditation. We all lose people in our life and the sadness of that loss is carried with us through our life. This lead to the question of how we cope with this sadness? The thought was that as well as the sadness we also carry all the happy memories of that person or animal. And then something miraculous happens the sadness balances with the happy thoughts and allows us to live in the joy and gratitude of all that was shared which makes the sadness bearable, and we know that in these memories they will be with us always. Then the scene described in the song came to my mind. A husband at the side of his wife's bed who is in a coma and he must choose when to switch off the life support machine. And in those last moments he is going through the process of balancing sadness and happy memories and comforted by the thought of her being always by his side." 

I just love this man's creativity and more so the fact that we come from the same family tree. It warms my heart that his musical gift comes to him much the same way as my writing comes to me making us in a way kindred spirits. It's such a beautiful demonstration of how manifestation occurs and how the synergy of the universe is continuously at play in our lives. Namaste. ☯

Steven gives his permission saying,

 "Use what need for the blog, I'm glad the song gave comfort to you and Val's children. Thank you for sharing... Just a quick note; did you see Laura and I at different times when we were young as there are only three years between us? (>‿♥) "

And so I now realize that little guy feeding his 5-month-old baby sister her bottle on our brief stop over in London enroute to Nairobi all those years ago was only 3 years old and not 5. They were just so cute at that age and have grown up with those beautiful faces intact to become lovely adults. Steven, I have spoken about, and Laura is the perfect culmination of all of the best parts of Uncle Ronnie and Auntie Nicky with a modern "woman of the millennium" sort of quality about her making her soft enough and strong enough to confidently grace the planet with her gifts, something we have each come here to Earth's schoolroom to discover and share.

Thank you both, my cousins for allowing me and my readers a small glimpse of your world in the sacred cherished moments of family gathering in our sad times and always, our happy times forever.

Until next time, hug your peeps, tell them you love them and know there will always be happy times forever.

Aunty B

Our Team Of Angels In Heaven Surely Missed This Christmas

Thank you, Girisha for always
remembering our Nixie with a
memorial each year.

Hello There! Aunty B here to share the sorrow and the knowing that heaven is a better place for having two
more angels we have loved on earth. For all of us missing our loved ones this Christmas, and any time for that matter, this post is for you.

In March of this year we lost our dearly beloved Valerie Pauline Edwards Leonard Spedding. She was not only my sister in law, my husband's sister and confidante, but my mentor, sounding board and friend. This quiet lady taught me more than I can describe here in her sweet, completely non-judgmental way about unconditional love, acceptance and practicality in the too short fourteen weeks I lived with her. When I arrived at her home in Surrey, UK with my betrothed, her brother, 10 years ago it had been thirty two years since I last saw her, a mere child at her wedding in Entebbe, Uganda. We clicked instantly and I felt welcome and so at home with this sweet soul. It was a lovely way to come into my new family. Certainly like nothing I had ever experienced before.

Val doing what she did best, mentoring us all through the stuff of life.

When my Nixie died, she cried with me on the phone, she talked and listened while I came to terms with this unimaginable loss for hours long distance across the Atlantic while I squatted in the middle of my kitchen floor at the other end of the phone wracked with grief. Valerie had a way of relating to everything a person was going through, having four children she was a true Mum taking in her children's friends treating them as she would her own, teaching them to read, giving them food and shelter, mentoring, loving, and finding the words to encourage no matter what their situation.When it came to difficult people, situations and loved ones with all their foibles, she would say, "What can we do but love them, warts and all". Now she joins our Nixie in heaven but we carry her forever in our hearts until one day we are able to meet again to hug, chat and drink endless cups of tea. ☺

Valerie had a sense of style which belied her sixty-five years. She was youthful, timeless, classy, fun-loving, and despite all of her health issues, food allergies and the rest, or maybe even because of them, she was an amazing cook. She could sew, knit, crochet, dance, and to us who relied on all of her senses like her best friend, Yvonne, her children, brothers, sisters in law and granddaughter, we will feel forever lost without her guidance and encouragement. Every time we accomplish something, need advice, think of something funny, don't know what spice goes with what meat, how to make crackling, how to get our dog used to being in a travel crate, we didn't need Google or GPS, we had Val. And now her essence guides us from heaven.

Our trip to the UK for Val's funeral doubled as a little mini holiday as we hadn't see the family in 6 years. We caught up with old friends and both our families, alike. Visiting my Uncle Ronnie we finally got to meet and spend time with my now adult cousins, Steven and Laura. When I last saw Steven he was five years old and Laura was 5 months old. It was Good Friday so Uncle Ronnie prepared seafood and vegetarian fare. Steven who teaches yoga to small children and salsa to adults is an all round creative peaceful spirit moving through this incarnation at his unique vibration and pace.

He tells the story of my dad, Steven's Uncle Eric giving him a guitar at age three, which he never picked up. Then suddenly 20 years later he decided to pick up a guitar and teach himself to play it because he wanted to create music for the mudras. What followed was this beautiful performance which to me felt like a healing balm timed just days after our farewell to our beloved Val. Steven wrote this song for a friend who passed away. Laura assisted being the "scroller extraordinaire" allowing Steven to be reminded of the lyrics he had saved on his mobile.

In the days to follow we shared this video with Val's children having the same comforting effect. Upon our return to Canada, my friend, Wanda came by with the the sweetest condolence card for us along with soothing tea and preserves she had made.  We sent a scan of the beautifully appropriate card to our Val's children who were as blessed by it as we were. This sympathy card was Wanda's favourite. I am honoured to share it with you here.

The beautiful elephant sympathy card from Wanda

Wanda on the bus trip where
we met in October 2012

Wanda herself was gravely ill but knowing our Val was terminal, she sent me on the trip with her blessings saying, "You will of course stay for as long as she needs you." Wanda sadly passed away just two weeks before Christmas and I firmly believe that she joins my tribe of angels in heaven along with Nixie and Val. We had known each other only 14 months but she was a tiny person with a huge spirit and I feel blessed to have had her on my soul's journey.


It is truly awe inspiring to me that these ladies with whom I've shared so little time here on Earth touched my life is such a deep way.  Merry Christmas in heaven, Val and Wanda. We shall miss you until we meet again.

Until next time, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and wishes fulfilled for 2014. 

Aunty B

a.k.a. Viv

Our Healing Comes Eventually When A Soul We Love Goes Back To Heaven

The last time we hugged

Hello There, Aunty B here on what would have been my sweet Nixie's 34th birthday.

I say Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet godchild today knowing that time is only here on Earth. Her soul is timeless and we are eternally connected.

One of my cherished memories as her godmother is when she said "You know Aunty B whenever I felt afraid or needed a safe haven, I found a church, no matter the time of day or night and would sit there in God's house until I was strong enough to face the world outside again". It is our job as godparents to teach our children about God and before she died, Nixie told her mother, my sister, Juliette that the best thing she ever did was choose me as her godmother.

From her place among the free and the ascended (by that I mean having gone through the lessons she and God chose for her in this lifetime as Nichole Cherise Amyotte), she is blessing us with messages and lighting our way to better places and choices.

Two years ago on this day, my first Reiki client arrived. Today on this day, his sister's birthday, Daniel begins his new career as a chef finally following his divine plan.  There is no coincidence and short of materializing in front of us and saying "do this, this way, apply here, start your biz!",  Nixie's essence is hugely affecting the synergism of the universe of which we are all a part and intricately intertwined to open the doors to experiences we were predestined to have. We agreed long before now that we would help remind each other of our gifts, our talents and our life's purpose and from heaven, she is keeping her end of the bargain. I know this because huge things are happening to those she loves and for now her way of telling us this is to have it happen on her birthday.

Interestingly, I too have another new client booking for Reiki today! Thank you Nixie for never letting me stray from my path.

As I said on Facebook, this morning, "There will never be closure and I will be sad that we lost you so soon until I see you again".

This is Nanny's song for you, Nixie. 
http://youtu.be/-rMp_hbWh4Q
She's just not the same since you've gone ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Happy Birthday in heaven, my sweet godchild. Your bright shining Light is always shining upon us and we are blessed by your work on the Other Side, but wish we still had you. The void is never filled. There is no closure. I will be sad you left us until I see you again. ♥ ♥ ♥

For my Nixie ♥

Thanks to  www.facebook.com/Missinglovedone for these inspirational images. 

Until next time, tell those you love how much they mean to you. Hug them and love them for time waits for no one.

Aunty B

Please leave me a comment so those of us who miss Nichole don't feel so alone...

On Her Birthday Her Coral Rose Bloomed

Today would have been my precious Nixie's 33rd birthday. Facebook reminded me this week that I have a friend with a birthday this week and asked if I would like to post on her wall to wish her a happy 33rd birthday. Well, I don't need Facebook to remind me as I am reminded by my sadness and the huge void I still feel every single day as Nixie pops into my mind and even most nights in my dreams.

While I was away at her funeral on Easter Monday last year, a cousin asked where I would be for my birthday. It was all a blur and my own birthday was not even registering on my radar. As it happened, it was 2 days away. Back home in New Brunswick, my dear friend, Patsy had bought me a little rose bush for my birthday, keeping it on her porch and watering it until I returned hoping it would survive in the unpredictable weather of Spring in the Maritimes. She had also given me the rosary made from coral brought back from her vacation to Cuba which I had blessed and lovingly placed around Nixie's hands in her casket.

Eventually, I did return to receive my birthday present. The little kordana rose plant was looking a bit bedraggled but alive. I put it on my plant shelf and continued to water it until Victoria Day weekend when it is said to be safe to start the garden after the threat of frost is gone. Sadly we lost Nixie's godfather and my Uncle Louis that week. Five weeks after travelling to Toronto to her funeral, I did a quick turn around back to the very same funeral home and a burial plot right next to Nixie's for yet another sad farewell on Victoria Day. There is some sad comfort in the fact that they are buried so close together as I feel they'll watch over each other in heaven.

Summer came and my family came to visit in July. My sister had lost a daughter and the godfather they shared, my mother had lost a granddaughter and a brother and I had lost my precious godchild and the uncle who had baptized her with me almost 31 years prior. It was a subdued visit but we soothed each other with the love of a family gathered in grief that was still very raw.

In the meantime, the little rose bush was getting greener on the shelf and eventually after their visit I planted it

Nixie's coral rose bloomed
on her birthday

in the garden. The first bloom arrived on what would have been Nixie's 32nd birthday and the colour of the bloom was coral. Unbeknownst to my friend, Patsy, coral is my favourite colour in the world so much so I picked it as my wedding theme colour when coral was not even in the bridal books yet. Napkins had to be died coral and we had to buy the fabric for the dresses in Pittsburgh, PA where my other sister, Nixie's Aunty Odie lives. Our cousin Marco Polo, Designer Extraordinaire did a beautiful job of making the dresses to complement my bridal gown. My girls were all gorgeous in coral and I am so very grateful for the coral rose bush which to me was a sign that Nixie was indeed celebrating her birthday with me, albeit from her spiritual realm.

I found out on the eve of her burial that the 31 white balloons filled with helium signifying each year that she lived which were to be released up to the sky at the graveside had lost their air by morning and would not go up that day. Upon hearing this, I knew that was confirmation for us that her soul is eternal and she did not want us to think this was the end of her. 31 was not all there is. She will be with us forever. She is eternal. The four heart balloons, one for each of her children held their helium and were indeed sent up to heaven with their mummy gone too soon by each of them as planned.

Coral roses happily blooming

Last October our wood supply for the winter arrived and was unloaded on the lawn. About a week after the delivery, I looked out the window suddenly realizing that the logs were right on top of Nixie's little coral rose bush and dispaired of its survival. I rushed out to the garden and began throwing logs off the pile hoping to find the little rose bush alive. To my delight I not only found it alive but it had another 2 blooms. This little rose bush lives on and on inspite of adversity. This spring we had more blooms and they continued into the summer. I'm sure we will have more in the fall as well. My sweet Nixie continues to make her "presence" felt in every area of my life and I know just as sure as I'm sitting here typing this, we will meet again. So Happy Birthday sweet godchild mine. I shall miss you for now but I rejoice in your eternal freedom and look forward to the day when we can hug again.

Godmother yours,
Aunty B

God's Light Is Always Present

Hello, from Aunty B after too long. There is a reason for my delay, though. I have been trying in vain to access the wallpaper on my cell phone so that I can share this story with you.  Today I gave up and just took a photo of the cell phone as best I could with my digital camera. Please forgive the blurry-ness.

Some time in February of this year, a couple of months before my precious Nixie passed away, late one evening I received a photo on my cell phone. It came from a number I didn't recognize and was part of a broadcast to several recipients. It was a weekend and I knew Nixie, being Nixie, had her two oldest children with her and probably a niece or two as well visiting to spend time with the baby. He was only 5 months old then. Irritated that she stored my new number in her phone, assuming the kids messing around, probably clicked random people to text on it. I looked at the message to find this very beautiful but sad photo of her, which I now cherish. Incidentally, her middle name is Cherise, which her mummy, my sister chose because it means to her "dear one". When she passed away on April 16th, I made this photo my cell phone wallpaper.

The months have passed and along the way I have had inklings, nudges, feelings and little lights of dawning, always when I have been on my daily walk with my dog or during meditation, those times when I am alone and talking to my precious Nixie in her now divine-again state, but none like this one. Now I can't give you the exact date of this profound moment, but it shook me and elated me all in one swoop. I sat at my computer, which also had a photo of Nixie and I as the desktop wallpaper so that I could see her when I talk to her each morning as I begin my day. I plugged my cell phone in to charge. The photo of her above looked back at me from my cell phone seeming so deep in thought. Then I looked at the one of her and I on my desktop, the second one from the left up here in the banner of this blog, where she's hugging me from behind and said, "Go on sweet godchild of mine. Do great things. Make loving, nourishing choices. Graduate with flying colours. Give beautiful valediction and as you dreamed in this life, go on to teach others from your mistakes and help them pull themselves back up out of the holes their choices have dug for them. I am proud of you for trying so hard, for wanting so much to help others you saw suffering as you did, barely healed yourself. We'll be ok here. Just show us who you are when we meet again so we recognize you".

I went on to check e-mail, the cell phone screen off now, and worked on my computer for a little while. Momentarily, the phone chimed to let me know it was fully charged and I unplugged it from the charger. I was astounded when I turned it on to find with no action on my part that my wallpaper had changed to the hallway of light. Yes I know this is a stock wallpaper graphic on some phones, but I did not touch my phone all the time it was charging. I had never seen this picture before and I certainly never knew it was even in my cell phone software. As I said, I have been trying in vain to retrieve this picture to write about my message for months.

The interesting timing of this incident was after I had been speaking to a very spiritual friend who has seen me through many a trial over the past nineteen years or so. She explained that it did your loved one's soul no good to sit about sad, wishing she were still here, in fact it hindered the soul's journey and ultimate onward evolution. She went on to describe the process, as she saw it from the moment of death. She said that your soul immediately goes through a kind of viewing process of each and every decision taken in this lifetime and the consequences that arose from it. Simultaneously, there is a choice made to choose a different result until a new incarnation is formed. Ironically, not knowing anything about my precious Nixie, my friend said, maybe she will choose to be a social worker or a counsellor in the next life to help those who have faced the same trials as she did. I was floored by this confirmation, as I saw it from the divine. Funnily enough, I have not been able to send or receive MMS on my cell since I received that photo of Nixie in February.

I spoke to my friend just at the right time, I got my cell phone message just at the right time, and today I figured that this story must be told so I was given the inspiration to take the photo another way, just at the right time. I also believe that my Nixie chose to make her transition back to the divine at exactly the right time for her souls eternal journey. I remain open to the signs, wherever and whatever they may be.

Until next time, hug someone you love,

Aunty B

AS DAYS GO BYE?

Hello There, Aunty B here to share with you another beautiful heartfelt poem by my sweet and talented niece, Jahnia. Like me, she writes from her soul and as a way of working through her emotions, especially the tragic loss of her mommy, my sweet godchild, Nixie. 

Thank you so much Jahnia for conveying what we all would like to have the words to say. We feel your pain and your loss and are very proud of how you have grown up. Keep writing as you write just beautifully and as time goes by it will help your sister and your brothers to read your poems and know what a loving mother Nixie was. She's smiling on you all from heaven.

Days go bye and bye but I never seem to forget what happened.

I wanna forget that part of it  but never forget U.

As days go bye, I think and think and think,  why!

WhY did it have to happened to the most wonderful girl, the most

Respectful girl, my mom, my bestfriend, and the girl I could to tell

everything, the girl that deseved much more than she had

but as the days go by I will never forget !


written by : Jahnia Amyotte

Amidst The Sadness Come Memories of Fun Shared in The Past

Hi There,

Aunty B here to share a story from a lady my precious Nixie knew but I didn't. I want to thank you, "Hope Place Sister", for sharing the fun side of my Nixie. These are the wonderful memories that keep her in our hearts and comfort us knowing that so many loved and cherished her. If you would like to contact me, kindly leave a comment below and I'll get back to you right away.

I share your story here just in case the funeral home Web site has a time limit on the guestbook for our dearest departed loved ones. Thank you for sharing those happy times we might not have otherwise known Nixie had.

Hope Place Sister <3

First of all, I would like to say how truly, deeply sorry I am to Nicoles family and children. She was a beautiful girl, with a beautiful heart and soul. She left us all too soon, but God has gained another wonderful angel.

We were at Hope Place in Milton in December of '09. I only knew Nikki for a short time, but in that time I got to know her very, very well. Besides her wonderful smile, the thing I remember most about her was the love she had for her beautiful children. She spoke of them all the time, and I remember that on one of our few shopping trips while at Hope place, she came back with hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas gifts for her babies, and she was so proud and so happy that she was able to do that for them.

My final memory of Nikki was (of course) also, at Hope Place. At night Nikki and her roommate and me and my roommate would try to scare each other and outdo the other from the night before. Well, Nikki had gotten us pretty good the night before by hiding in our closet and jumping out at us when we entered the room. She scared us... badly! We all (especially Nikki, who was pretty proud of herself, lol) laughed for a very long time over that. The next night my roommate and I were listening to Nikki and her roommate talking in their room late at night, from the window. Not only were we all suppose to be inside by then,but Hope Place was just a house in the middle of nowhere, far back from the main road, surrounded by nothing but forrest and fields for miles. So she didn't expect anyone to be outside.

We waited silently for a few minutes and then I banged on their window as fast and as hard as I could, and scared the crap out of them. Nikki literally jumped onto the other girls bed an hid behind her while still screaming. By the time we came in and made it to their door, they were still in the middle of the room holding onto each other trying to look out the window from across the room. When they realised it was us, I'm pretty sure that she threw some stuff at us, but soon began to laugh just as hard, if not harder then we were.

She had such a wonderful sense of humour. She was usually always smiling or laughing. She loved to talk too which sometimes got her in trouble..lol) At Hope place we had alot of very serious very deep discussions about our past among other things, and Nikki would be the first one to reach out to another, when they were crying or sad, or just having a hard time expressing what they needed too, and give them a hug, a tissue, or even a sympathetic look, or a knowing smile. She had a very generous heart, and I will truly truly miss her. She was and always will be my Hope Place sister, and like I said, we lost a beautiful woman from our lives, but gained a wonderful angel to watch over us all.

I miss you Nikki, and am so upset we lost touch over the past few years. You touched my heart in many ways, and I think of you often. Your children and your family are in my heart. <3
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

RIP Nikki 

Once again, I thank you for your sweet and precious memories, Hope Place Sister, and wish you all the success you deserve on your own journey of healing and wholeness.

Much love and blessings, 

Nixie's Aunty B

She Always Wanted To Be A Good Aunt

Hello our family, friends and loved ones. As Nixie's Aunty B, I can attest to the fact that she always wanted to be a good aunt. She would call her Nanny up and say she's coming to the country for a break to get away from the city for a day. Sure enough, when she got there, she always had a niece or two in tow.

She always called me wherever I was in the world from Nanny's house on her visits. I would say to her "I thought you were taking a break today" and her response would always be "They wanted to come and looked sad that I was leaving so I couldn't not bring them. They're my nieces and I want to be there for them and be a good aunty". Well, my sweet Nixie, here is the living proof that you were that and so much more. Your first niece, Diavione, wrote this tribute for you on the day she was to say her last farewell to you. In her grief, she forgot it at home and didn't get to read it to you in church on that saddest day of days in her life. With her permission, I have included her favourite photo of both of you and her heartfelt words:

Every knows our beautiful Nixie, but no one knows her as much as her family and very close friends.

Nixie was our hero. She cared for people older than her, same age or even younger it doesn’t matter who you are she cared for you. 

Even if you had no home or if you had no clothes she would give you the clothes that she was wearing because that’s just who she was. She was an amazing mom sister, aunt, daughter, granddaughter and much more.

She would go down the wrong path but she found herself again we all wish she was here but know she is in a much better place and we know she will be in God’s hands where she will rest and where there is no more pain and she won't have to struggle ever again.

It is a beautiful tribute, Diavione and I'm sure your Aunty Nixie is smiling down on you from heaven, shining her love upon you and watching over you on your eleventh birthday and always, as proud of you as we are.

Love You,
Aunty B

The Struggle To Make Sense of The Seemingly Senseless

Hello there, my beloved family, friends and those drawing inspiration from this blog. I started this blog as a way of moving through my grief over losing my sweet godchild, Nixie 4 weeks ago today at such a young age. As I have posted before, finding words in these early days has been challenging so I began by sharing the poems of her daughter, cousin and soon one from her niece.

Bear in mind, folks have shared odes, tributes and stories which may have circulated via e-mail and generally online, some recently and others for a long time not always identifying the author, like the one I read at her funeral, handed to me minutes before delivered it from the lectern. These verses are still around because they have helped so many through difficult times and continue to help still more. One such story I have seen in my in-box for years many times comes to mind as I struggle with more questions than answers in my various stages of grief.

I believe this is called, Two Travelling Angels but I'm not sure. I have no idea who wrote it but draw great comfort from it and hope you do too.

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night
in the home of a wealthy family.

The family was rude and refused to let the angels
stay in the mansion's guest room.

Instead the angels were given a small space in
the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the
older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,
"Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house
of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

After sharing what little food they had the couple
let the angels sleep in their bed where they could
have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels
found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole
income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the
older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.

The second family had little but was willing to
share everything, and you let the cow die.

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I
noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.

Since the owner was so obsessed with greed
and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed,
the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.

Things aren't always what they seem."

To quote the great author, Toni Morrison, who lost a son this past December, "I expect to be sad for the rest of my days. I am not looking to move on. I am not looking for closure. That would dishonour my son's memory". She said she has things that are hers. She has her writing. These are places where you can keep going, keep living your life, as I interpret it. She advised that we should find something that is our "sacred place, it may be gardening", and that for her it's her writing. I feel the same way as Ms. Morrison that my writing is my sacred place. It is where I can express myself without interruption or wondering if someone is "getting" what I'm saying. It's just for me to heal and hopefully inspire those who may stumble upon my words. For this sacred place, I am truly grateful.

I did not know that my sweet Nixie's exit from this road we began travelling together was coming so soon, but I do know I have to keep going to fulfill the divine plan we co-created previous to coming here, without GPS, and trust that things may not always be what they seem, but that I don't always have to understand. April 25th, 2011 when I had to say farewell to my sweet godchild was the saddest day of my life to date. I expect to be sad every moment that I think of her because I have loved her and been loved by her. Our souls journey has been written. I just need to continue along the route and watch for the signs which will show me my lane until we meet again.

Until next time, tell someone you love them.

Aunty B

She Rehearsed Her Poem Until She Read It Without Crying

Hello My Loved Ones. Today I bring you the poem, my other goddaughter, Miss Mew read for her cousin, Nixie.

When she heard her cousin had just died suddenly, as we all did, she cried and cried and hugged her Mom. She was with her friends on her way to see a movie. They promised her Mom they would be there to help her through her grief as they proceeded on to the theatre.

Her schooling has served her well. She has taken a public speaking class but nothing could make delivering a poem for her cousin at her funeral easy. She arrived at Nanny's house after an all-night coach ride and read it to her Auntie Julie, Nixie's Mom. She had read it to her own Mom. I arrived late that evening and she read it to me. Each time she managed another paragraph with less pausing to choke back her tears. The final rehearsal was at the casket. Miss Mew thought if she managed to read it through without breaking down to Nixie herself in her casket at the funeral home, she would be able to do it in front of the congregation in the church.

As she approached the lectern she took a deep breath. She began by introducing herself as Nixie's cousin from Pittsburgh and then thanked everybody for coming. She did us proud, reading strongly and steadily with her mother, Nixie's Aunty Odie and myself standing behind her, one step below her, each with a hand on her back. This is the poem, my sweet godchild, Miss Mew read for her precious cousin, Nixie:

An Angel whispered to Nixie,
take my hand and come with me
you're work here is done.

Nixie went away to a place
where there are no tears, nor sorrow
only laughter and smiles,
there will always be a Tomorrow.

As Nixie moves amongst the clouds.
She’ll look down and smile upon us
while the angels sing a heavenly song.

Nixie is not alone; all who went before are there.
Papa Eric, Mama, Aunty Ada & Uncle Howard awaited her return.

Nixie knows we'll grieve and wish she was still here
But she is here in the memories we hold dear.

Remember how much Nixie loves us
and know she took our love with her.
She did not wish for us to cry, nor feel sad.
Her pain is gone and she is Free!

Soon we'll go to join her.
Until then God will be with us
Just as He's with Nixie.

She ended with a teary "I love you, Nixie" and walked back to her pew with the dignity and class we who have seen her grow up were filled with pride and joy to witness. "Well done!", I whispered as I took my place at the lectern not doing nearly as well as my sweet Miss Mew did.

A Child's Beautiful Farewell To Her Mother

Hello again my dearest family and friends. As we come to terms with our grief in these early days following the departure of our sweet Nixie I wanted to share with you her daughter, Jahnia's poem. Jahnia who is twelve years old gave me her permission to share her farewell which my sister, her Aunty Odie read on her behalf of the day of the funeral 2 weeks ago.

Thank you sweet Jahnia. We are so proud of you for writing these beautiful words in honour of your mom. I'm sure she is smiling down on you from heaven where you will meet again some sweet day.

We love you,
Aunty B, Aunty Odie, Grandma and Nanny

Today Would Have Been My Dad's 78th Birthday

Today is Mother's Day. It is a day that fell quite often on my father's birthday, May 8th. Sadly my dad passed away almost 20 years ago in his 59th year after a 7 month battle with brain cancer. Nixie was only 11 years old then. She came daily with her parents to the hospital to see her "Papa Eric", as she called him. Papa Eric called Nixie his "Big Chief" because of her First Nation heritage. She was always a loving, healing soul, kind to all those who crossed her path ever since she was a little girl.

Her mother used to come home and find several kids from the playground in her house invited by little Nixie because they looked hungry or being sponged off because she didn't want them to get in trouble going home dirty from the playground.

In the hospital when her Papa Eric was so ill, there were times visitors had to overflow into the family room, provided for those with relatives in Palliative Care. On her way down there to watch television one day Nixie, passed the room of an Alzheimer's patient calling and crying. She stopped in to talk to "Libby" and calmed her down. For the months her Papa Eric was in the hospital, Nixie became a regular visitor to "Libby" who didn't seem to have any family. With the permission of the nurses, Nixie would spend time with "Libby", talking to her, eventually combing her hair and telling her she was pretty. "Libby" was always calm and happy when Nixie was with her much to the gratitude of the nursing staff, patients and their families in this ward where emotions were raw and quiet time is paramount for all concerned.

13 years later, Nixie's great-grandmother, my grandmother was gravely ill from kidney failure as a result of Diabetes and again she was there to love and heal. By then 24 years old, she would visit the hospital regularly sitting for long periods by her great-grandmother's bedside, holding her hand, applying lotion to hands and feet. She came across an absess which had been there a while, pulled a pot of shea butter from her purse, applied it lovingly to her "Mama's" boo boo and not surprisingly to me or anyone who knew Nixie, the abscess healed within 24 hours.

This year, Big Chief has joined her Papa Eric and Mama in heaven taking her place among the angels doing the work of the Great Spirit and being guardian angel her four children, three nieces and one nephew she left behind.

Happy birthday Dad and Happy Mother's Day Nixie, forever in our hearts until we meet again.

When Grief Strikes, Poems From Past Come To Mind

Aunty B here with a beautiful poem shared with me by a kindred spirit I have just discovered since my precious Nixie left us. This young lady can be found under the link, "A Valediction" in the sidebar. I believe my beloved Nixie wanted us to meet. I'm just saddened that it had to be in the event of her departure from this life.

I found this poem awhile ago & I think it perfectly describes Nichole. Needless to say that I think about her a lot. Siegfried Sassoon wrote poetry during and after WWI. So, I guess this is highly appropriate because as you said I was in the "trenches" with Nix once. Really it's her laugh that I remember the most.


"Elegy"


Your dextrous wit will haunt us long
Wounding our grief with yesterday.
Your laughter is a broken song;
And death has found you, kind and gay.

We may forget those transient things
That made your charm and our delight:
But loyal love has deathless wings
That rise and triumph out of night.

So, in the days to come, your name
Shall be as music that ascends
When honour turns a heart from shame...
O heart of hearts! ... O friend of friends!


-Siegfried Sassoon


luv,
Girisha

Thank you so much, Girisha. I too remember her hearty, loud laugh. She came by that honestly as her mum and I have it too. When we were kids growing up there was a market in Kenya called Makadara Market and our elders always admonished us for not laughing like ladies, saying to stop that "Makadara Laugh". Funnily, Jennifer Lopez and Julia Roberts laugh the same way and always remind me of Nixie when I hear them laugh.

Finding Words Through Extreme Grief

I got the dreaded phone call that my sweet godchild had died suddenly. The trauma and the primal wail that came from me in my disbelief was unrecognizable.

For the next eight days I struggled to find words to eulogize her short tumultuous life of only 31 years. Prayer and meditation yielded no comforting words. We drove a thousand miles to attend her funeral and still no words came along the way. I wasn't even sure I'd even be able to speak on that very sad farewell day.

Finally on the day we closed the casket to transport her to the church, her father handed me these words. He said they had come that day in a condolence basket from his work and asked if I would read them during the funeral Requiem Mass. It seemed to be a sign from my sweet Nixie that she wanted me to speak for her and let everyone know she was OK. It was the saddest day of my life and through my tears I managed to read through to the end. Here then are the words my Nixie sent to me:

If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things, we didn't get to say,
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, so much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked throught heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you".


Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,
And since each day's the same way,
There's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful, so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things,
You knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven, and now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand, and share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your your heart.

A Child Of Mine

Hello There, Aunty B here to share with you this very old poem, sent to me by my cousin, Nadine. Thanks so much Nades for sending me your love, prayers and many words  from which I am drawing strength in the wake of the sudden, senseless and shocking loss of my sweet godchild.

A Child Of Mine by Edgar Albert Guest, 1930

I will lend you, for a little time,
A child of mine, He said.
For you to love the while she lives,
And mourn for when she's dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty-two or three.
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her for Me?
She'll bring her charms to gladden you,
And should her stay be brief.
You'll have her lovely memories,
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over,
In search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.
Now will you give her all your love,
Nor think the labour vain.
Nor hate me when I come
To take her home again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
'Dear Lord, Thy will be done!'
For all the joys Thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter her with tenderness,
We'll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for her,
Much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.

Thank you to my nephew, Daniel for finding this beautiful video and Auntie Pattie for re-sharing it on Facebook: