‘a beautiful book about a powerful bond’ between mother and daughter’
Excerpts from Miracle Within Small Things: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Loss and Aging
Mother/Jane McKinney
Promise of Spring
Walking on the path
along the river
with the trees budding
and the birds singing
I am overcome
with the promise
of spring.
Everywhere there are “twos”–
the ducks in the water
the geese along the shore–
even birds in the trees
call eagerly to each other.
Sometimes, instead of “twos”
there are “threes”
or even “fours”
as little ones
follow along
behind the parents.
It is spring–
joy and promise
brighten the world.
Daughter/Mary McKSchmidt
Turquoise Plaid Pajamas
Will I remember how peaceful she looks tucked in the recliner, her comforter pulled up against her chin, the life-like golden retriever draped across her lap? How her head lists to the right as she sleeps? How delight sweeps across her face when she opens her eyes and I am there? How she raises her arms for a hug and her excitement is like a flock of robins feasting on the berries of a crabapple tree in winter? How anticipation, hers and mine, swirls about our shoulders as I slide down the side of the bed to the floor at her feet for our chat? How our conversation flows as a river, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, but always moving? How, when I help her rise from the recliner on the count of three, we pause for a morning embrace? How her hair tickles my nose as I kiss the top of her head? How the softness of her fleece pajamas breaks my heart open to the possibilities of each new day? How I left a note to the caregivers asking that mother’s pajamas be spared the whirling efficiency of the dryer? How I hoped air-drying would preserve the feel of the fleece?
together they explore loss, pain, fear, change, commitment, aging, loneliness, and loss.” Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, author of All the Honey and Hush
“Here’s a collection of prose and poetry doing what it has always been meant to do–make accessible the great mysteries of hearts that have weathered our ineffable perceptions, insights, joys, and sorrows.” Jack Ridl, author of Practicing to Walk Like a Heron; co-recipient from Foreword Reviews for the nation’s best book of poetry .
“More than anything, mother and daughter remind us of the importance of living with joy.” Eric Stemle, author of I Was not the Blossom: Growing with Your Students in a Nurturing Classroom
“…a beautiful book about a powerful bond.” Anne-Marie Oomen, author of As Long as I Know You: The Mom Book and other Michigan Notable Books awards
“A quiet poignancy is reflected in their words that embrace life despite loss and grief.” Linda Nemec Foster, author of Bone Country and The Blue Divide
” . . . they describe how they’ve learned to live everyday with grace, gratitude, grit and humor as they grow older together . . .” Pamela H. Daugavietis, retired freelance writer, Grand Rapids, MI
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