What a joy to wake up to a brief snow storm this morning. (pics here)

What a joy to have Maria run in the bedroom, screaming “IT’S SNOWING!!!” That kind of memory will never fade.

Every time it snows, I will remember that moment of joy.

And I needed this snow this morning. I needed the joy. Because I have a sore throat and allergies that won’t leave, yes, that’s part of it. But the greater part is that one year ago this morning, Kathleen Baskin-Ball died.

A year ago, just a couple of hours from now, I got a call from Bill Ball, saying that Kathleen had just died. The rest of the afternoon was a blur of tears, prayers and hugs.

Like the blend of wet snow and rain that will surely come just a few moments from now, joy is mixed with sorrow, life with death.

The other day, Tom Geddie reminded me of a saying that was carved into the corner of the bar at the old Poor David’s Pub on Greenville Avenue*. It was a little life observation that somehow fits today:

“Life is like licking honey off a thorn.”

The good is always a “wintery mix” with the bad, sorrow will always follow happiness…will always follow sorrow…will….you get the idea…

So, I invite you to read this tribute I wrote about Kathleen a year ago tomorrow. It’s my offering for the day.

And I will watch the rest of this snow melt off, grinning from time to time…and wondering….

Dear Kathleen, did you send us the snow today?

We love you and miss you still…

* Where Bill and Kathleen “remet” by the way…