On this first month of July, we hope and wish for many things. (I also wish my Canadian readers a Happy Canada Day.)
The year is half over. We are hopefully exiting a heat wave in the Northeast United States that might have been newsworthy except for the blistering heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest of our country. I have experienced 112F. I can't begin to imagine 117.
But today, my thoughts are directed towards those three of those who have left us in the past year. So many, too many, hit by the fickle finger of fate. But these people intersected with my life in some way.
One was a gentleman, musician,
newsletter writer and former businessman I blogged about just a few days ago. He passed away days after I blogged about him. I liked his band. I was an occasional reader of a music newsletter that he wrote anonymously (once he was dying, he revealed himself). May he rest in peace.
One
was a Facebook friend in another country, a woman I had never met in person. I found a Facebook friend of hers in Facebook group that I had joined. Don't ask how a Jewish gal from New York City ended up as Facebook friends with a Christian romance writer from South Africa, but the Internet can be like that. We really didn't interact much and, in retrospect, I regret that. This woman was only 50 years old, and died on June 25, after a battle
with COVID-19. Its Delta variant is surging in her country. May she
rest in peace.
The third, a woman I had met back in 2018 and had a very nice chat with her and her husband, died nearly a year ago. Tom and Kathy Rood owned a daylily garden, Grace Gardens, in Penn Yan, New York. (Penn Yan is in the New York Finger Lakes, near Keuka Lake.) Grace Gardens is gorgeous when the day lilies are in bloom (I've blogged about it several times).
I found out last week, when I received a postcard from her husband Tom announcing their annual open house (we didn't attend last year due to COVID). The postcard also announced Kathy's death in September 2020 and her obituary mentioned a short battle with cancer May Kathy rest in peace.
Kathy was an expert daylily hybridizer and had several daylily varieties named after her. She was also an accomplished artist.
I can pay some tribute to Kathy with daylilies. Mine are starting to bloom. I know these came from Grace Gardens because of where we planted them.
I might be able to look back in my blog and identify them. My record keeping, to be blunt, is awful. But not today.
If you like these, I have more (purchased from various sources) to show you another day.
Happy July to us all, as we in the Northern hemisphere settle into summer.
I went back and read those posts you highlighted from people who had passed. So sad when so young. It makes one appreciate their life more and to try to live each day with purpose and not mindlessly (like I am so apt to do).
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note, if you survived 112, you could survive 117 degrees :) Highest temperature I have been in is 123 degrees :)
Let's hope the rest of your summer is cooler and very pleasant! I can't believe it is July already. Where did this year go?
betty
They are gorgeous and I'm so sorry about the loss of your friends. I hope it cools down there soon. It's so odd to watch the news and see Florida among the states with the lowest temps in the country right now!
ReplyDeleteMy daylilies should start opening this week. I've been wondering how I would keep my house cool and if my plants would even survive temps over 100. I can't imagine.
ReplyDelete...my early daylilies, Stella, Happy Returns and Pardon Me are blooming. I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for the loss of those who meant so much to you.
ReplyDeleteYou really have some beautiful daylilies. My Bonanza and American Revolution, older plants, are blooming. Bonanza like crazy. The newer ones are mostly in bud, with May May flowering. They didn't mind the heat last weekend (we're "down" to just 100 and 101 now!), but a lot of leaves are browned. I did lose some plants when it was 115 (not officially, apparently it has to stay a temperature for a specific length of time for them to count it).
July started off well in Oregon, our mask mandate for businesses ended.
So sad. Glad to hear that things are cooling off for you, though. Maybe the worst of the weather is over?
ReplyDeleteFate is indeed fickle. I have a cousin once removed who is hospitalized with Covid and it does not look good. She is young in my perspective. She is only one year older than me.
ReplyDeleteMy daylilies are blooming their hearts out. I planted them in the back yard and I am the only one who really gets a good gander at them, which is a waste. They are beautiful.
I don't have any daylilles and it been ages since I been in Canada, since 9-11
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Alana,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. Life is cruel sometimes. I guess we can learn things from these situations such as seizing every opportunity we can to get better acquainted with people who interest us or learn about the lives of those we already know better and so forth. I know I'm horrible. I used to not be, though. I loved getting involved with a person's life learning and really growing friendship. I'm really sloping in this department anymore. I've gotta change this and get back to my old self again. At least you have something fond to remind you of Kathy now every time you see Daylilies blooming. Hugs! 😘
I'm sorry for the loss of your friends. It's so sad to lose someone.
ReplyDeleteLoss and flowers in almost the same breath. Isn't life like that? Tragedy and sorrow in the midst of beauty.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your friends. I firmly believe in a next life, but that is of little comfort for those who are grieving here and now.
That is a feature of the internet, you make friends and then you lose them without ever meeting in person. Sorry for these losses. Those are some very attractive daylilies.
ReplyDelete