Comments on: A “Wind Vane” Story – A Perfect Day – September 15, 1996 http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/ Take time to seek out a better way, while exploring less traveled side roads along the path Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:15:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles » Blog Archive » ‘Grace Notes’ Revisited: Mysterious Gift Brings ‘A Perfect Day’ & Blessings http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-449 Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles » Blog Archive » ‘Grace Notes’ Revisited: Mysterious Gift Brings ‘A Perfect Day’ & Blessings Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:33:14 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-449 [...] That’s the name of my published story about my last full day with my dad before he died in September, 1996.  “A Perfect Day.” [...] [...] That’s the name of my published story about my last full day with my dad before he died in September, 1996.  “A Perfect Day.” [...]

]]> By: Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles » Blog Archive » Thoughts For This Morning . . . http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-448 Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles » Blog Archive » Thoughts For This Morning . . . Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:48:11 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-448 [...] October 25th, 2006 at 9:48 am by Dee O'Neil Andrews  Christianity should shine through us like sunshine through a pane of glass.  We should make it shine so clearly that people will say, "What a beautiful day" not "What a beautiful pane of glass"I've mentioned before that I get a daily morning email from a Christian service out of Colorado (one of my favorite states since I came close to death there a month ago but survived) called "This Day's Thought."  Each one includes a thought for the day, a scripture for the day and sometimes a smile for the day. I like getting it.  A lot.  I look for it and along with my morning coffee it always starts my day off right.  With some good thoughts, a thoughtful scripture and something to start the day smiling about.The one above came yesterday and I love it.  I've been thinking about it and how true that should be.  We "should" be transparent in other words.  Gosh . . . do you think you are?  Am I?  Tom and my close friends think that the older I get the more transparent I've become - much more myself.  Much more outgoing and outspoken and - well - the real me, whereas for years and years I was much more introverted and considered that to me who I was.  I've resisted thinking that I'm more extraverted, but maybe that is because over the past couple of years I've been forced to be confined at home for such long periods of time.  But you know what?  Blogging has been my salvation from depression and sadness and long time feelings of worthlessness.  Truly.  I'm absolutely serious here.  (As my kids used to say all the time, I'm "serious as a heart attack!"  I have no idea where they got that, but that's what they always said.)  So let me ask you a question.  Do you think my blogging personality (and real one for those of you who know me, have met me or even talked with me on the phone) is one of a more introverted, thinking person or extraverted, life of the party person?  Or  a combination of both?  Chime in y'all!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Speaking of personalities and such, I updated my Profile yesterday with a more recent picture of myself.  It's something I've been wanting and needing to do.  So take a look at the "real" me.  It's a bit out of focus up close, but then - hey - so am I most of the time, don't you think?!  ha!  Anyone want to venture a guess about how old I am?  I may even engage in true confessions later today and tell you all either at the bottom of the post or in comment.  So stay tuned.  You may be amazed.  Or disappointed as the case may be.Of course the first one of you who says a young 75 (Tommy) will be in big trouble.  And those of you who already know can't guess (although you could be nice and mention my age in dog years, which would be a pretty great age for a woman of my age to be.  I fully expect Greg to do so anyway seeing as how he's so attached to his psycho-pup Chipper.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I love the cooler fall weather, being able to leave the windows open.  I like the trees turning colors a bit (not much here) and I like all the harvesting being done.  Fall is a time of nostalgia for me.  How about you?  I've written before about loving most the pungent acrid smell of the cotton burrs burning at the gin that filled the air with its smokyness for miles around as the cotton was being harvested.  On our way home last month we saw field after field after field of cotton being harvested in south Arkansas and northern Louisiana.  Fields of maize and grain.  I miss the farm and the fall harvest.But I hate the shorter days and early nights.  This weekend it will be even worse with darkness falling here a bit after 5 p.m.  Our boxes sitting around everywhere seem to loom in the darkness and I love the light.I guess I'll have to be more like those window panes I started off talking about.  Transparent so that whatever light there is can shine through.Blessings to you all this day!  Dee~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [...] [...] October 25th, 2006 at 9:48 am by Dee O’Neil Andrews  Christianity should shine through us like sunshine through a pane of glass.  We should make it shine so clearly that people will say, "What a beautiful day" not "What a beautiful pane of glass"I’ve mentioned before that I get a daily morning email from a Christian service out of Colorado (one of my favorite states since I came close to death there a month ago but survived) called "This Day’s Thought."  Each one includes a thought for the day, a scripture for the day and sometimes a smile for the day. I like getting it.  A lot.  I look for it and along with my morning coffee it always starts my day off right.  With some good thoughts, a thoughtful scripture and something to start the day smiling about.The one above came yesterday and I love it.  I’ve been thinking about it and how true that should be.  We "should" be transparent in other words.  Gosh . . . do you think you are?  Am I?  Tom and my close friends think that the older I get the more transparent I’ve become – much more myself.  Much more outgoing and outspoken and – well – the real me, whereas for years and years I was much more introverted and considered that to me who I was.  I’ve resisted thinking that I’m more extraverted, but maybe that is because over the past couple of years I’ve been forced to be confined at home for such long periods of time.  But you know what?  Blogging has been my salvation from depression and sadness and long time feelings of worthlessness.  Truly.  I’m absolutely serious here.  (As my kids used to say all the time, I’m "serious as a heart attack!"  I have no idea where they got that, but that’s what they always said.)  So let me ask you a question.  Do you think my blogging personality (and real one for those of you who know me, have met me or even talked with me on the phone) is one of a more introverted, thinking person or extraverted, life of the party person?  Or  a combination of both?  Chime in y’all!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Speaking of personalities and such, I updated my Profile yesterday with a more recent picture of myself.  It’s something I’ve been wanting and needing to do.  So take a look at the "real" me.  It’s a bit out of focus up close, but then – hey – so am I most of the time, don’t you think?!  ha!  Anyone want to venture a guess about how old I am?  I may even engage in true confessions later today and tell you all either at the bottom of the post or in comment.  So stay tuned.  You may be amazed.  Or disappointed as the case may be.Of course the first one of you who says a young 75 (Tommy) will be in big trouble.  And those of you who already know can’t guess (although you could be nice and mention my age in dog years, which would be a pretty great age for a woman of my age to be.  I fully expect Greg to do so anyway seeing as how he’s so attached to his psycho-pup Chipper.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I love the cooler fall weather, being able to leave the windows open.  I like the trees turning colors a bit (not much here) and I like all the harvesting being done.  Fall is a time of nostalgia for me.  How about you?  I’ve written before about loving most the pungent acrid smell of the cotton burrs burning at the gin that filled the air with its smokyness for miles around as the cotton was being harvested.  On our way home last month we saw field after field after field of cotton being harvested in south Arkansas and northern Louisiana.  Fields of maize and grain.  I miss the farm and the fall harvest.But I hate the shorter days and early nights.  This weekend it will be even worse with darkness falling here a bit after 5 p.m.  Our boxes sitting around everywhere seem to loom in the darkness and I love the light.I guess I’ll have to be more like those window panes I started off talking about.  Transparent so that whatever light there is can shine through.Blessings to you all this day!  Dee~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [...]

]]> By: Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles » Blog Archive » Journey to the Far Shore http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-447 Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles » Blog Archive » Journey to the Far Shore Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:22:15 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-447 [...] September 17th, 2006 at 7:19 pm by Dee O'Neil Andrews Not to be morbid here in any way, but if any of you are still around when this shell of a physical body I live in goes back to the earth from whence it came - dust to dust, ashes to ashes - and my soul takes flight, remember these words of mine today.  I write here my epitaph as I see death at this time in my life's journey.This has been a week of memories.  Memories of 9/11 last Monday for us all;  for us personally, memorie much more compelling.  Thursday was the fourth sad annual reminder of Tom's beloved daughter Kim's death.  I will not write of her now, but refer you to what I wrote last September 14, and I hope you will read it.  See her picture with Tom and her little daughter, Hayley - In Memoriam - Kimberly Andrews Oldham.I also remember my dad's death 10 years this date.  Here I offer you a special Wind Vane story from last September 30th, which tells his story and mine on his last complete, "perfect" day on earth.  Take the time to read about "A Perfect Day - September 15, 1996" and comment either there or here, your choice.I wrote the other day in response to Mike Cope's Wednesday post he called "The Last Minute Phone Call," about how I view death these days and why I always say "I love you" to Tom, my kids, my family, whenever we must say good-bye, even if for a short time.I’ve come to think of death as sailing off on our brightly colored Hobie catamaran toward the setting of the sun where the lighthouse on the not too distant shore gleams brightly ahead shining its glowing light across the water showing us the path to home. Across the waves I hear all the echoes of the many loving words shared and left between us and they, too, help guide the way.I close with a poem I wrote many years ago as a very young woman long before I ever had the chance to sail.  It was not written as such, but could today serve as my epitaph or eulogy complete.  I leave it with you to remember me by when - not if - my final earth day shall come when I set sail to eternal shores.  THE LIGHTHOUSE  Across the blue calm seaI see a safe place for me.Light, flashing brightOn wings of gullsReflects the silverOf the wavesThat beat a shining pathTo the shore.The door is thereBelow the stairThat upward leadsTo the lighthouseOf my soul.           Dee Ann Andrews              circa 1973  [...] [...] September 17th, 2006 at 7:19 pm by Dee O’Neil Andrews Not to be morbid here in any way, but if any of you are still around when this shell of a physical body I live in goes back to the earth from whence it came – dust to dust, ashes to ashes – and my soul takes flight, remember these words of mine today.  I write here my epitaph as I see death at this time in my life’s journey.This has been a week of memories.  Memories of 9/11 last Monday for us all;  for us personally, memorie much more compelling.  Thursday was the fourth sad annual reminder of Tom’s beloved daughter Kim’s death.  I will not write of her now, but refer you to what I wrote last September 14, and I hope you will read it.  See her picture with Tom and her little daughter, Hayley – In Memoriam – Kimberly Andrews Oldham.I also remember my dad’s death 10 years this date.  Here I offer you a special Wind Vane story from last September 30th, which tells his story and mine on his last complete, "perfect" day on earth.  Take the time to read about "A Perfect Day – September 15, 1996" and comment either there or here, your choice.I wrote the other day in response to Mike Cope’s Wednesday post he called "The Last Minute Phone Call," about how I view death these days and why I always say "I love you" to Tom, my kids, my family, whenever we must say good-bye, even if for a short time.I’ve come to think of death as sailing off on our brightly colored Hobie catamaran toward the setting of the sun where the lighthouse on the not too distant shore gleams brightly ahead shining its glowing light across the water showing us the path to home. Across the waves I hear all the echoes of the many loving words shared and left between us and they, too, help guide the way.I close with a poem I wrote many years ago as a very young woman long before I ever had the chance to sail.  It was not written as such, but could today serve as my epitaph or eulogy complete.  I leave it with you to remember me by when – not if – my final earth day shall come when I set sail to eternal shores.  THE LIGHTHOUSE  Across the blue calm seaI see a safe place for me.Light, flashing brightOn wings of gullsReflects the silverOf the wavesThat beat a shining pathTo the shore.The door is thereBelow the stairThat upward leadsTo the lighthouseOf my soul.           Dee Ann Andrews              circa 1973  [...]

]]> By: BR-549 http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-446 BR-549 Wed, 05 Oct 2005 03:48:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-446 You're such a great writer, Dee! Very, very moving and from the heart. You’re such a great writer, Dee! Very, very moving and from the heart.

]]> By: Nancy http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Nancy Mon, 03 Oct 2005 21:53:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-445 Dee, you really had me choked up during this post! Beautiful and moving. Nancy Dee, you really had me choked up during this post!

Beautiful and moving.
Nancy

]]> By: april http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-444 april Mon, 03 Oct 2005 16:44:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-444 so beautiful...i wish i could remember (as well as write) the last day with my dad so clearly. so beautiful…i wish i could remember (as well as write) the last day with my dad so clearly.

]]> By: TCS http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-443 TCS Mon, 03 Oct 2005 15:18:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-443 I am at a loss for words. I am at a loss for words.

]]> By: Hoots Musings http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Hoots Musings Mon, 03 Oct 2005 04:13:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-442 Dee you are gifted. Lovely, absolutely lovely. Thank you. Dee you are gifted.
Lovely, absolutely lovely.
Thank you.

]]> By: Sandi http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-441 Sandi Mon, 03 Oct 2005 01:09:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-441 Wow, Dee. Your words and memories of your last day with your dad are just beautiful. What a blessing from God -- to come to know your father in a deeper way after years of fear and to experience such a perfect day as his last. God truly does pour out His blessings on His children. Thank you for sharing this story. Wow, Dee. Your words and memories of your last day with your dad are just beautiful. What a blessing from God — to come to know your father in a deeper way after years of fear and to experience such a perfect day as his last. God truly does pour out His blessings on His children. Thank you for sharing this story.

]]> By: judy thomas http://deeandrews.net/2005/09/30/a-wind-vane-story-a-perfect-day-september-15-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-440 judy thomas Sat, 01 Oct 2005 23:12:00 +0000 http://deeandrews.net/?p=84#comment-440 Beautiful, Dee. Beautiful, Dee.

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