Helen's Fiftieth

It is  Saturday, 9 May and Day 53 during the CoronaVirus Lockdown and it would be Helen's 50th Birthday if she were alive. I keep thinking of her illustration of the little bomb shelter, in case of a catastrophic event. She always showed prescience and here she foresees a time when we might have to be living in a little shelter under the ground.



Well, it is not a bomb that is keeping us in but rather a terrifying virus that is killing people and making more sick. It is stopping the World economies and making the world a poorer place. People are dying not only of the virus but also of hunger.

But today I am thinking about Helen. I usually put flowers up on the blog on this day and our garden is full of beautiful late spring flowers--a typical springtime in Columbia, a time to celebrate. This year is the same as it was when she was born. She was born on a Saturday and Mother's Day came a day later and what a gift she was!

I was a bit disappointed that she was born on a Saturday as the rhyme says that Saturday's child has to work hard for a living. I wanted her to be born on Sunday as Sundays child is loving and giving. None the less, she turned out to be the most loving and giving person. And she did work hard, not so much for her living as for her art.

As a child she was cheerful and happy and enthusiastic. I love this particular picture of her, even though it is not in good focus but it show her spirit, her enthusiasm for life and she carried this with her.

(have to find it--it's around)

She was always a good child, mischievous but always kind and thoughtful of others.

 

Paul organized  a virtual Birthday party on ZOOM with about 40 people participating and it was a wonderful gift to have her celebrated and remembered. And this is what I would call a silver lining of the Corona Madness--we are all learning to ZOOM in order to reach out to others.

 

I know I am so fortunate as there is so much suffering all over the world, but I am missing Helen more than ever.