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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.

See and hear this song by clicking this link to "In this Life" on Youtube:

Youtube might not be accessible from Northwestern Mutual Network offices

 

For all I've been blessed with in my life
There was an emptiness in me
I was imprisoned by the power of gold
With one kind touch you've set me free

Chorus:
Let the world stop turning
Let the sun stop burning
Let them tell me love's not worth going through
If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered had come true
In this life, I was loved by you.

For every mountain I have climbed
Every raging river crossed
You were the treasure that I longed to find
Without your love I would be lost.

Chorus:
Let the world stop turning
Let the sun stop burning
Let them tell me love's not worth going through
If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered had come true
In this life, I was loved by you.

I know that I won't live forever
But forever I'll be loving you.

Chorus:
Let the world stop turning
Let the sun stop burning
Let them tell me love's not worth going through
If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered had come true
In this life, I was loved by you

 

 

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”?

And then I listen to “Iz’s” rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”…and I find my answers…and my peace

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true.

Someday I wish upon a star
Wakeup where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dare to
Oh why oh why can’t I

Well I see tree’s of green and red roses to
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Well I see skies of blue and
I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colours of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
I also one the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do
They’re really saying I I love you

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more then we’ll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Someday I wish upon a star
Wakeup where the clouds are far behind me
Well trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me

Oh somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dare to
Why oh why can’t I

         

Youtube:
Somewhere over the Rainbow
Youtube might not be accessible from Northwestern Mutual Network offices

 

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,

 Norma & Ken

 

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