A Beautiful Moment...In The Midst Of This Pandemic

Last weekend we had a precious experience that I will remember forever…a sweet celebration for a dear friend’s 40th birthday. Early in the week we received a simple message inviting us to their family farm about 15 minutes out of town. Although I knew this would be no ordinary party, as we couldn’t share food, or gather around a fire pit…there would be no toasts or blowing out birthday candles in this wild virus season we are in,  but I was still absolutely thrilled to have something to look forward to and to share a moment in time with others! So, shortly after sundown we drove our truck up the long dirt driveway to the “gathering” of friends and her family. Each car was given a small box of cupcakes as we entered and then we sat in our vehicles waiting for the birthday celebration to begin. We saw friends in their cars all around…and although it wasn’t  traditional it was still wonderful just to see faces I knew! Folks were opening the backs of their SUV’s they had backed in to the pasture while others climbed in the back of their trucks, all waving and shouting hellos to others they knew. So, in the warm Texas April evening, with icing on our faces from the cupcakes we had all enjoyed…we waited…and then the fireworks began. Literally, as we looked just past their pond (or tank as you call it in Texas) a beautiful fireworks show began for everyone to enjoy. It was literally a beautiful burst of light and color in the midst of darkness. Fireworks, launched into the sky almost in protest to the world below…it was symbolic…it was touching…and it was a form of celebration greatly needed by all of us who have felt so isolated in this pandemic. It was thrilling to see both the creativity and simplicity of the celebration. 

I knew as we drove home that night that my grandmother would love to hear about this perfectly simple and thoughtful evening shared in the country on a farm miles away from streetlights and shopping centers. So, first thing the next morning I gave her a call. I hoped it would remind her of old times, when she was a teenager on their family farm in Missouri. Before she even heard the story she would be “tickled” (a word she often uses) to sit and listen to each detail imagining it for herself, thrilled to go back in time a bit herself.  Gram loved hearing my story and then we went on to have a beautiful conversation about how times have changed so very much.

My Gram’s been living a good life for 88 years, and this time at home in isolation has clearly given her a great deal of time to sit and reflect on all that is going on in the world. I asked her how she was doing being stuck at home for over six weeks and she told me something so profound I had to grab a pen and write it down before I forgot it. She said “my dad used to say that old age is a series of compromises and this season is just one of those compromises.” The wisdom in those words struck me, and then we continued down the path of wisdom, that passes on from one generation to another. Priceless nuggets from someone who is further down the road than you, who may have a different perspective because of the road they’ve travelled. I enjoyed it…the food for thought…her 88 year old eyes looking at this 2020 problem and the way our culture is responding. Gram has walked through several seasons of death and loss, losing her parents, husband and a son, but as she says that’s to be expected in old age. She was subtle with her words, but she meant it when she told me that when she was young, she did not expect “happily ever after” like many folks do now. More pearls for me to ponder as I wade through this craziness.

Inspired by fireworks in the country, I not only shared a moment with friends under the stars in the country, I also got to share a moment with my Gram the next day which was special too. It led us to some laughter, several wonderful stories and an intimate moment with my grandmother who is thousands of miles away. There is beauty…even in this craziness.