On Monday, once dad's daughters had gathered around, dad told us that mom's birds come to the back porch every evening and that we should listen for them. He said that every day at dusk mom really enjoyed watching and listening to the birds. And then he told us about the birds again. But no one really had the focus to go out side and wait for the birds. I don't remember if we noticed birds that evening. It's all a blur, but I am pretty sure no one even looked for mom's birds.
Mom used to tell us that if there was an afterlife she would find a way to communicate with us. And knowing mom's fierce determination we knew she would. So, on Tuesday when I ran over the grocery store for more tissues and bananas with my step sister, I stopped in my tracks when we walked out into the parking lot and saw this:
You can't really tell, but there were some serious heavenly rays coming from those clouds, and I thought to myself, "Hmmm... heavenly rays, mom in heaven, could it be?" and when I got back to the house, and lil sis told me that there had been a magnificent rainbow behind the house, I wondered even more. But then when lil sis told me that she had called my kids out to see the rainbow, I thought to myself, "I really do think this feels like mom." But deep down inside, I pleaded with mom to give me a sign that was just a little more definite, like a handwritten note or something else kind of unmistakable. And then I told lil sis that I had seen an exceptional sky from the grocery store and showed lil sis the picture. And she took my iphone into her hands and stared and stared until I screamed "What?!?!?" and lil whispered back "Is it me or do you see an opened mouth bird in those clouds?" Holy cow, ma!
Then on Wednesday we had the funeral, and afterwards dad's house was packed with all of mom and dad's friends. When it began to get late and the first batch of people decided to head out the sky opened up. So we sat there watching and waiting for the rain to stop. And then lil sis announces another rainbow.
And I run for my camera, because, wow, two rainbows in two days? And we go outside, and not only is there a rainbow but there is a rainbow that arches right over mom's back yard view and we can see both ends as crystal clear as day. And a crowd of mom's family and friends gathers to see this extra amazing rainbow. And 50 people are standing around gazing left and right at that beautiful arch, when a second rainbow appears right around the first rainbow. And it is amazing.
And I declare, that mom always did everything in a big way. And everyone laughs, because it is so true. Because seriously folks, if you saw mom's jewelry drawer you would know that one single rainbow would never do. I have never seen a double rainbow before. I am snapping pictures when lil sis asks me to look at the cloud forming just inside the inner rainbow and lo and behold the tiny little cloud balls are most definitely in the shape of a J. J is mom's first initial.
And now I think to myself, "OMG, I asked for a written note, I'd say her initials are written" So I begin to wonder what it looks like on the other side of the house. I manage to slip away from the crowd, and I head for the front door. Not a rainbow, but not too shabby, right?
And then on Friday, when I was sitting there thinking about how brilliant the sunsets had been all week, and I wondered if it was chance or mom, I happened to glance out the window and even on the plane on my way home from florida, I got the feeling that mom was not done entertaining us yet.
i believe. i do.
i'm speechless.
those pictures are gorgeous and even more than that the signs that your mom sent that she is okay... are amazing.
i have to go... i'm crying.
thank you for sharing. that is such a gift.
hugs!
Posted by: jenn | June 25, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Hi, I stumbled upon your journal post while searching for something entirely different. it caught my eye...I just lost my mom on the 21st of June...1 week ago...and on the night of her wake there was a rainbow over the funeral home..Everyone that came in to pay their respects were talking about it...We all believe that my Mom sent that rainbow for us...I just wanted to share that with you. Both of our Mom's are in heaven and are at peace. Your post touched my heart. Thank you for sharing it...Sincerely, Diane V. from Coventry, Rhode Island
Posted by: Diane V. | June 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM