meet celeste. i named her that when i got her and she has graced my garden for about 20 years.
celeste has a story. my mom was always kind of partial to her. she'd always make a stop to see celeste out in the garden when she was at our house. during the winter she'd ask me what i did with celeste during the cold months, and when we were moving from appleton to marinette mom was very concerned about celeste moving with us. i always thought it was cute. in 2001 mom was sick with the lymphoma that would very shortly kill her. sister gina and i were at mom's house, and we were talking about funerals, cremation, cemeteries, etc. one of us asked mom where she would like to be buried--meaning, locally at forest home with dad or back in chicago with her parents. (she had already made it clear to us that she wanted to be cremated.) "well, she said, i'd really like to be buried in evie's garden near celeste."
my jaw dropped. i actually thought i had misheard what she said. finally, i managed a "that's fine, mom, it is your choice, but why my garden??"
she went on to tell us that in between the births of brothers joseph and kim, she had a miscarriage. this we already knew, although she never talked about it. apparently she was far enough along in the pregnancy to know that she had carried a baby girl and she had named her celeste. so my little garden statue had always reminded her of her little celeste that never had a chance to be a real little girl in the world and a member of our family. at the time i was pretty blown away and more than a little spooked by her story, but i have come to regard it as a little pearl of a parting gift that mom chose to share. celeste would have been my older sister, 4 or 5 years older than me. i wish i would have had the chance to know her.
celeste has a story. my mom was always kind of partial to her. she'd always make a stop to see celeste out in the garden when she was at our house. during the winter she'd ask me what i did with celeste during the cold months, and when we were moving from appleton to marinette mom was very concerned about celeste moving with us. i always thought it was cute. in 2001 mom was sick with the lymphoma that would very shortly kill her. sister gina and i were at mom's house, and we were talking about funerals, cremation, cemeteries, etc. one of us asked mom where she would like to be buried--meaning, locally at forest home with dad or back in chicago with her parents. (she had already made it clear to us that she wanted to be cremated.) "well, she said, i'd really like to be buried in evie's garden near celeste."
my jaw dropped. i actually thought i had misheard what she said. finally, i managed a "that's fine, mom, it is your choice, but why my garden??"
she went on to tell us that in between the births of brothers joseph and kim, she had a miscarriage. this we already knew, although she never talked about it. apparently she was far enough along in the pregnancy to know that she had carried a baby girl and she had named her celeste. so my little garden statue had always reminded her of her little celeste that never had a chance to be a real little girl in the world and a member of our family. at the time i was pretty blown away and more than a little spooked by her story, but i have come to regard it as a little pearl of a parting gift that mom chose to share. celeste would have been my older sister, 4 or 5 years older than me. i wish i would have had the chance to know her.
2 comments:
I am so happy I found your blog--my mom just told be about it!! You have given me a much needed break from my school work :-) THANKS!! I love the story about Celeste, even though there is a bit of sadness there, she is a great reminder of how life lives on in the little things that we surround ourselves with!!--She is precious, and made me smile :-) Congrats on the blue ribbon!! I loved your project--how creative---so, what are your ideas for the next fair??? I will visit your blog often--keep writing!!
Love, JULIE ;-) Hi to all readers!!
Just another wonderful story by your mom--dont' you wish we would have had her record all her stories?? She was quite the lady and is greatly missed!! Celeste must watch over your flower gardens and keep them so wonderful looking!! Not that you dont' have anything to do with that!!!
I just love reading all your blog entries--don't stop!!!
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