PETER AND THE CARDINAL

IT'S THURSDAY AGAIN ALMOST PENACOST SUNDAY AND HOLY WEEK WE GRAZED THROUGH ASH WEDNESDAY MY MIND FOCUSING ON OUR FAMILY OUTING TAKING FLOWERS TO MA I ALWAYS ADORED THE YELLOW ONES FOR MA AND TINY PINK TEA ROSES FOR LISA NOT JUST ANY TEA ROSES MAKE SURE THE PETALS ARE PRESSED FIRMLY TOGETHER AT THE STEM OTHERWISE THE FIRST BREEZE WILL TAKE THEM AWAY THIS YEAR PETER I WAS THINKING CRAWLING ROSES FOR ALL OF THEM INCLUDING LIL PETE CRAWLING ROSES LAST MUCH LONGER THEY ALSO BECOME LIKE VINES THIS WAY EVEN WHEN WE CAN'T MAKE IT OUT THEY WILL STILL HAVE FLOWERS PROVIDED STAFF STILL TRIMS EVERY WEEK I'M QUITE SURE THEY DO I FELT VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO GRIEVE AND TALK TO MA OVER ROSES FUNNY RIGHT SHE WOULD SAY GIVE ME MY FLOWERS WHILE I'M HERE TO ENJOY THEM I THINK THAT'S WHY I MAKE SURE TO BUY MY WEEKLY ROSES MY LOVED SENDING THE KIDS AND I EASTER CARDS EVEN THOUGH CHRIS WAS HER FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BUNDLE SHE MADE SURE THE KIDS HAD HIS BASKETS WE TALKED FOR HOURS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN SHE WAS SO AFRAID OF LOSING ANOTHER CHILD LISA AND MARIE DEATH PLACED A TREMBLING FEAR INSIDE MA WATCHING HER SON GRIEVE THE LOSS OF YOUR LITTLE GIRL YOUR PAIN DEVASTATED MA SHE WOULD SAY I JUST CAN'T BURY CIRO SHE WAS SO WORRIED SHE ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO DIE WHILE HE WAS INSIDE SO AFTER LIL PETE'S DEATH MA LIVED IN FEAR OF CIRO DYING BEHIND BARS SHE HELD ON VERY TIGHT TO ME I MEAN SHE EMBRACED ME AND MY CHILDREN WE WERE FAMILY SHE WOULD SAY TO ME MOTHER YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD MOTHER IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU EVER NEED PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME I WOULD TELL HER EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY AND THAT SHE'LL SEE CIRO WILL BE HOME AND SHE DIDN'T NEED TO WORRY I REMINDED HER TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF SO SHE COULD BE WELL WHEN HE DID COME BACK HOME WE PRAYED LOSS MA TALKED ABOUT YOU AND CIRO LIKE YOU WERE STILL BOYS AT HOME PUTTING BASIL ON THE WINDOW SILL BRO PETE FUNNY HOW MEMORIES TURNS INTO GOLD VALUABLE PRICELESS YOU CAN NEVER PUT A PRICE ON A MEMORY IT COMES I. SWEEPS YOU OFF YOUR FEET AND DANCES A GENTLE BREEZE A HAND ON A CHEEK A SMILE A WINK PLEASANT GESTURES AND THEN THE CARDINAL LANDS THE MEMORIES FLIES AWAY UNTIL NEXT TIME WE VISIT OUR LOVED ONES THE MEANING IF THE HOLY TRINITY ST PATRICKS PENACOST SUNDAY HOLY WEEK EASTER THE STATION OF THE CROSS JESUS IN THE GARDEN THE EMPTY TOMB RESURRECTION THIS IS WHY MA AND I TREASURED THIS TIME OF YEAR YES CHRISTMAS TOO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST BUT MA BLAMED HERSELF FOR EVERYTHING SHE FELT THE FAMILY WAS CURSED BY DEATHS IN THREES SHE AND I WERE VERY FOND OF THE MEANING OF RESURRECTION AND FORGIVENESS WHICH IS WHY SHE BEGGED GOD TO TAKE HER BEFORE CIRO DIES AND WHEN SHE WAS STRICKENED WITH THE DECISION WHEN HE HAD TO FAKE HIS DEATH SHE WASN'T HAPPY AT ALL THIS BROKE HER HEART TOOK HER BREATH AWAY DID YOU KNOW THAT QUITE THE CRUEL PUNISHMENT FOR ANY MOTHER THE HEART OF A MOTHER RIGHT BUT MA WAS A SHARP SHOOTER STRONG BEAUTIFUL BEING SO THIS YEAR CRAWLING ROSES THEY ARE STRONG JUST LIKE MA I ADORE THE RED ONES BECAUSE DURING COOL MONTHS THEY TURN DARK PINK THEN LIGHT PINK FINALLY RED AGAIN IN THE SPRING THIS WAY YOU GET TO WATCH THE CARDINAL DANCE IN THE BREEZE IN THE GARDEN AND MA WILL ALWAYS HAVE FRESH FLOWERS