prior page - Back to Norma's Home Page - next page
February 14, 2013
“In This Life”…what a difference a day makes.
Our lives are measured in time; milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours,
days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries…So as we “time travel” together
“in this life”, I am thankful for the time God has given to me…to us.
Life can be wonderful, yet so fragile.
Why are some given more time while others are given less?
Perhaps the answer to this question can be found “Somewhere Over the
Rainbow”
On February 8, 2013, I awoke from a restful sleep aboard the Norwegian cruise
ship, Pride of America. I glanced
at my watch and it was precisely 6:10 a.m. Hawaiian time…10:10 a.m. Chicago
time. Norma lay sleeping peacefully
beside me. It took me a moment to
reflect on the significance of the date and the time.
Tears filled my eyes and I silently thanked and praised God for his mercy
as I gently caressed her – pulling her close to me.
As of that moment, it had been precisely five years to the date and time
that Norma had experienced her life threatening brain aneurysm on February 8,
2008. That date and time was in
stark contrast to our moment in time today.
In 2008, Norma called my cell from the parking lot of her Crest Hill Chalkboard
store. She was calling to let me
know that one of “our” favorite college songs was playing on the radio.
Ten minutes later at 10:10 a.m. Chicago time, I received a call from
Norma’s sister Nancy explaining that something was seriously wrong with Norma
and an ambulance was on its way to take her to the emergency room at St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet. In a
matter of minutes, our lives had changed.
Five years ago, standing in the hospital parking lot, I found myself in a cold,
dark and lonely place. Tiny ice
pellets blasted my face as I anxiously watched Norma’s helicopter rise up
towards a totally gray, overcast sky… except for one small sunlit opening in the
clouds where God’s finger had shown her pilot the way.
We were not alone after all.
Five years later…to the day…we were waking up in warm, sunny Nawiliwili (Kauai),
Hawaii…together. God had granted
his gift of more time to us. As I
pondered our blessings, I was acutely aware that many others this beautiful fine
day would be running out of time. I
wondered who and why?
During our cruise to the Hawaiian Islands, we became huge fans of a Hawaiian
singer and ukulele musician, Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole.
“Iz” was only 38 years old on June 26, 1997 when his heart and lungs
failed due to complications caused by severe obesity.
He was 6’2” and weighed 757 pounds.
Although he has passed, his timeless music remains.
His song “In This Life” strikes a chord within me as to how I feel about Norma
and how much she has blessed my life.
For all I've been blessed with in my life Chorus: For every mountain I have climbed Chorus: I know that I won't live forever Chorus:
|
We take great joy in knowing that our fellow cruisers – Jim & Sue Chesney, Dan &
Carolyn Dial, Dave & Kara Justice, Dennis & Cecile Kratowil and Dale & Karen
Roberts share our similar feelings, as Norma and I felt privileged to witness
the love they too share with one another.
This was a very special moment in time
for us!
Perhaps “Iz” is best known on the mainland for his rendition of “Somewhere Over
the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”.
It is our favorite rendition of this timeless tune.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true…
Our very close and dear personal friend Brian Roberts’ father Jim Roberts, Sr.
had been courageously battling cancer as well as Alzheimer’s and on February 8th
at 4:33 p.m. central time, we received the following text from Brian while we
were still aboard the Pride of America:
“Dad passed into God’s hands at 4.
Love ya…B”
We again asked ourselves why? Why
is it that while we are basking in the sun rays and blue skies on a beautiful
Hawaiian island…a wonderful and special person like Brian’s dad has to say
“goodbye”?
Somewhere over the rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow Someday I wish upon a star Somewhere over the rainbow Well I see tree’s of green and red roses to Well I see skies of blue and The colours of the rainbow I hear babies cry and I watch them grow Someday I wish upon a star Oh somewhere over the rainbow |
Youtube: Somewhere over the Rainbow |
|
On February 8, 2013, Brian’s father stood at the threshold of heaven…and as he crossed over, he was embraced by angels…singing gloriously!...and Jim Roberts, Sr. basked in the warm glow of God’s eternal light…colors which we can only dream of! I would like to believe that one of those angels was a Hawaiian musician by the name of Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole…singing…somewhere over the rainbow.
In God’s time, good friends! Happy Valentine’s Day! May you be dipped in love…and milk chocolate…and red roses too!
With much love,
prior page - Back to Norma's Home Page - next page