Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    2 weeks ago

    A trip to Ireland with my loved ones!

    Hate the thought of this too but with what is going on in the world lately, one never knows!

  2. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    2 weeks ago

    How would I choose to live today if I knew today was my last?
    I’d take a shower
    and put on my long raspberry flowered sun dress,
    and my straw hat,
    (just to paint a pretty picture 🙂 ) . . .
    go out into the back yard,
    where I’d take one last, long tour of the gardens,
    and maybe stop to pull up a weed or two.
    I’d make my way up the side of our property
    peeking in at some new growth,
    perhaps seeing a few maple sprouts or sumac to pull out . . .
    really pay attention to those delicate bleeding hearts
    and the tiny blue flowers on my brunnera,
    marvel at how the golden archangel has spread,
    and wonder at the tenacity of the ajuga,
    which always finds a way to slither out of the nourishing flower beds
    and into the lawn, . . .
    pick a few lily of the valley,
    as they must be enjoyed in bunches.

    I’d have to take the long view on the mounds of hosta growing
    all of the way from front to back of our property . . .
    all sizes, configurations, growth patterns,
    more than you can imagine,
    and the colors every shade of blue slate and cream
    to white and yellow an amazing array of greens . . .
    some leaves half the size of my hand,
    and some as big as Thanksgiving turkey platters,
    some so short I must bend on my knees to touch them
    and some that come up above my waist.

    I’d remember with amazement
    how I hauled all of those hundreds of cobblestones around the yard,
    in order to enclose the beds from the grass,
    and what a back breaking job that was . . .
    all those wheelbarrows of mulch and top soil,
    only to discover that I am allergic to mulch . . .
    the holes I dug . . .
    bottles of fish fertilizer and bags of milorganite I bought at Agway.
    Ah, me . . .
    let me not forget the ferns . . .
    hundreds of them,
    dug up from my parents’-in-law yard in Iowa
    and brought all the way back here,
    where they have thrived . . .
    other ferns picked up along the way . . .
    Korean ferns, maiden’s hair,
    cinnamon, lady’s ferns with blood red stems ,
    ostrich and wood ferns.
    And this is only spring.

    I’d look at my beautiful, disorganized,
    crazy wild gardens
    and would hold them all very close in my heart,
    hoping
    that after I’m not here anymore
    someone will be grateful for them
    and love them as much as I did.

    1. Elizabeth H67151
      Elizabeth H
      1 week ago

      Your garden sounds amazing, Sparrow! I wish I could visit it.

    2. Ose
      Ose
      1 week ago

      Thank you, dear Sparrow

    3. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 weeks ago

      🌱🙏

  3. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    2 weeks ago

    Taking three flights, I thank God for getting back to the U.S. safely. I’m grateful to be with Loc again after moments with my loved ones in Vietnam. This question comes just at the right time, not to answer but to remind me that I’m blessed by God for the time I have with my loved ones. Because I never know when it will be my last day of life. Not knowing it makes me live my life with joy, and thinking of it motivates me to live more focused in love, meaningfully.

    1. Patti
      sunnypatti
      1 week ago

      Glad you made it home safely. Welcome back!

    2. Michele
      Michele
      1 week ago

      Welcome back Ngoc 🙂

    3. Mary
      Mary
      2 weeks ago

      Welcome back, Ngoc!

    4. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 weeks ago

      Welcome back home Ngoc!

    5. Robin Ann
      Robin Ann
      2 weeks ago

      Welcome home!

    6. L
      Loc Tran
      2 weeks ago

      Welcome home, my Ngoc. I found this question meaningful too, especially not knowing how long we have left remaining. It certainly makes me want to spend more quality time with you.

    7. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 weeks ago

      ”Not knowing it makes me live my life with joy, and thinking of it motivates me to live more focused in love, meaningfully.”

      This is so true,
      dear Ngoc . . .
      that’s why it is good to ask ourselves the question
      once in awhile.

      Ps. Welcome back,
      safely. ♥

  4. A
    Antonia
    2 weeks ago

    The idea of today being my last is terrifying to me. I don’t know how I’d handle that kind of knowledge– I think I’d rather not know. Maybe my fear helps me to notice how much I care about being here, and how grateful I am for the people and moments I have each day—even the ordinary ones.

  5. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol
    2 weeks ago

    Hopefully, the same way I would live it (today) if I didn’t know it was my last day! Gratefully.

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      2 weeks ago

      Carol, it’s a good thing that’s uncertain. We’ve had a question about that before. That answers those questions, especially relating to fear.

  6. Michele
    Michele
    2 weeks ago

    Observe, be kind, patient and look to next new experience with love and an open heart.

    My flight back home is delayed. Patience Michele.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 weeks ago

      Michele, when I was a child my father had a mimeographed copy of a cartoon on the fridge. It was of two buzzards perched along side each other on a large tree limb. The bubble above one of them said “Patience hell! I’m gonna kill something.” Your one word reminded me of that. I have not thought of that cartoon for many, many years. Thank you.

      1. Michele
        Michele
        1 week ago

        🙂 My flight ended up being delayed only about an hour or so, not too bad… I’ve had worse for sure.

  7. Barb C
    Barb C
    2 weeks ago

    Any day could be my last, and I would simply have lived it. That’s really all I can do.

    The question does prompt me to get my will update finished soon. Beyond that, the people I love know that I love them. That’s the most important thing, and I keep that alive.

  8. Elizabeth H67151
    Elizabeth H
    2 weeks ago

    Spending time with loved ones, letting them know how much they have meant to me and how grateful I have been for this life, perhaps sharing/discussing good memories I have with them.

    1. Mary
      Mary
      2 weeks ago

      Yes, that is what I would do too, Elizabeth.

      1. Elizabeth H67151
        Elizabeth H
        1 week ago

        ♥️

  9. Patti
    sunnypatti
    2 weeks ago

    I, too, think this question is a bit morbid. Death will come when it’s time, which I truly hope isn’t for another 40ish years… I’d love to be a 90-something year old lady still practicing yoga and maybe even surfing.

    That said… If I did know that this was my last day, I’d have my husband take me and the dogs to the beach. We’d swim, walk, lay under the warm (currently very hot!) sun. I’d ask loved ones to join us, and I think we’d finish the day off with a delicious meal. I think I’d probably like to eat some tomato pie (Southern recipe) and maybe even some steamed oysters. Slurp!

    Have a great day, all! It’s supposed to be something like 103 today, and I know lots of you are also experiencing a heatwave in the USA… be safe and stay hydrated!

    1. D
      Drea
      2 weeks ago

      Echoing the interest in tomato pie. I’m going to look up a recipe!

      1. Michele
        Michele
        1 week ago

        This is very different from the Philly Tomato pie – that is just pie crust, marina sauce, and parmigiano/Romano cheese – no mozzarella – I never liked it (I’m like wtf is the point, there is no cheese?) but there are people who LOVE it.
        In Philadelphia, a tomato pie is a type of pizza characterized by its thick, focaccia-like crust topped with a chunky tomato sauce and a dusting of cheese, typically Pecorino Romano. It’s served at room temperature, unlike traditional hot pizzas, and is a popular treat in South Philadelphia bakeries
        https://samsitalianmarket.net/author/samsital/ – if you’re ever in the area, theirs is supposed to be really good

        1. Patti
          sunnypatti
          1 week ago

          I’ve heard of the Philly style tomato pie, from my PA raised husband, of course! To be fair, parmigiano is cheese, but I feel ya… My husband is not a fan either, and he LOVES my tomato pies. It’s actually the first thing I ever made for him after we started dating. I like to tell people that it sealed the deal of our love 🙂

          I do love me some Italian cheeses though. Yum yum yum!!

      2. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 weeks ago

        It’s super easy… I actually “stole” the recipe from the College of Charleston cookbook by former college President’s wife, Zoe Sanders. I worked in the President’s office when Alex Sanders was in charge, and tried tomato pie for the 1st time then after a board meeting, probably back in 98 or 99.
        I lost the official recipe but have made it so many times –

        Southern Tomato Pie
        * premade pie crust – prebaked almost to finished (or make your own if you like to bake!)
        * 1 small-medium chopped vidalia onion (you can use a yellow or white onion, but it’s best with the sweeter variety), maybe about 3/4 cup, enough to line the bottom of the pie crust
        * 3-4 medium fresh tomatoes, cubed or sliced (I like cubed because it is easier to cut before serving), drained overnight or placed between towels to remove the moisture. I also like to presalt the ‘maters as well.
        * fresh basil, chopped. I like enough to cover the whole pie, so maybe like 4tbsp chopped? FWIW, I never think there’s “too much” basil in this pie
        * sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, somewhere between 1 1/2 – 2 cups
        * mayonnaise, about 1/2 cup – I like super eggy mayo in this dish, so generally only use Duke’s (we are very particular about our mayo in the south!)

        Mix the cheese and mayo. It shouldn’t be too wet, really just enough mayo to make the cheese stick together. I’ve also tried pimento cheese instead of the cheese/mayo mix, and it’s just as good since it’s basically the same thing.

        Cover the bottom of the precooked pie crust with onions. Next layer the tomatoes, and sprinkle on some pepper (and salt unless you presalted). Layer the basil, and then the cheese mixture.

        Bake about 350 for 30-40 minutes, until the top is bubbly and slightly browning. It’ll look like a quiche.

        Let sit a good while before cutting since it will all fall apart otherwise. It’s yummy with just a little warmth (my husband will eat it cold!)

        There’s a green tomato pie recipe in the Duke’s Mayo cookbook that is also quite delicious, but I love the classic recipe the best 🙂

        1. sparrow51014
          sparrow
          2 weeks ago

          Thank you,
          dear Sunnypatti . . .
          I will surely be making it
          when the tomatoes ripen,
          usually August here.. ♥

        2. Yram
          Yram
          2 weeks ago

          Thank you I will give it a try. Do you use a meatier tomato variety?
          Have you ever had tomato jam? Yummy.

          1. Patti
            sunnypatti
            2 weeks ago

            I love tomato jam! I pretty much love all things tomatoes!
            Meatier tomatoes for the pie works best, but I’ve used smaller varieties like romas in the past. I used to grow beefsteak tomatoes so I could use them in pies and sandwiches. Heirlooms work great, too, and give it a little extra color.

        3. Patti
          sunnypatti
          2 weeks ago

          also, after I fill the crust, I like to cover the edge of the crust with some foil so it doesn’t burn or get too dark. not necessary if you have a convention oven since it’ll cook faster, which I learned when we had our restaurant!

          1. D
            Drea
            2 weeks ago

            Thank you so much Sunnypatti, this looks scrumptious! The tomatoes should be ripening here in July and I can’t wait to give this a try. What a treat. Thanks again.

    2. L
      Loc Tran
      2 weeks ago

      Sunnypatti, I’m only 33, so I have more than 50yrs to go. I know what you mean.

    3. Barb C
      Barb C
      2 weeks ago

      The tomato pie with all the mayonnaise and cheese? I had that on an extended bike tour and it was amazing!! I haven’t made it but now that you reminded me I’ll have to do that with some of my tomatoes when they ripen this year.

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 weeks ago

        Yep, and don’t forget the fresh basil. OMG, I need to make one soon!

    4. Elizabeth H67151
      Elizabeth H
      2 weeks ago

      tomato pie? That sounds interesting. Is it a main dish or a dessert?

      1. Michele
        Michele
        1 week ago

        This is very different from the Philly Tomato pie – that is just pie crust, marina sauce, and parmigiano/Romano cheese – no mozzarella – I never liked it (I’m like wtf is the point, there is no cheese?) but there are people who LOVE it.
        In Philadelphia, a tomato pie is a type of pizza characterized by its thick, focaccia-like crust topped with a chunky tomato sauce and a dusting of cheese, typically Pecorino Romano. It’s served at room temperature, unlike traditional hot pizzas, and is a popular treat in South Philadelphia bakeries
        https://samsitalianmarket.net/author/samsital/ – if you’re ever in the area, theirs is supposed to be really good

      2. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 weeks ago

        A main or side dish! Usually a side dish first, and any leftovers (which only happens if it’s just me & my husband) become a main dish the next day. It’s the first thing I made him when we started dating, and that sealed the deal. hahaha! I’ve been making them for years… my mamaw won’t take anything else from me at a family function. We also sold tons of them when we had our catering business. Good, good stuff!

        1. Elizabeth H67151
          Elizabeth H
          1 week ago

          ♥️

  10. D
    Drea
    2 weeks ago

    Hike in the woods, eat cake by a lake with loved ones and the dog, and make sure I have a peaceful, joyful send off.

    1. Patti
      sunnypatti
      2 weeks ago

      Oh, I forgot to add cake to mine! I’d definitely eat some cake, too 🙂

      1. D
        Drea
        2 weeks ago

        Today’s reflection has me thinking I need more lakes and cakes in my life!

        1. L
          Loc Tran
          2 weeks ago

          Don’t forget stakes too, Drea.

          1. D
            Drea
            2 weeks ago

            Ha, yes. Going to die in style here.

      2. L
        Loc Tran
        2 weeks ago

        Sunnypatti, I’d add ice cream too. Cake does sound delicious.

        1. Patti
          sunnypatti
          2 weeks ago

          especially if it was as hot as it is for lots of us today!

  11. L
    Loc Tran
    2 weeks ago

    I’d live like any other day. Death is the least of my fears. We’re all going to die anyways at some point.

  12. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    2 weeks ago

    I was thinking and walking in the forest this morning while the rain was pouring down. I was pondering this question and I was grateful for the universe and all its glory. I would do what I’m doing right now and let go and give thanks for all of creation. I love you universe and I’m so grateful for you and all your love .

  13. Avril
    Avril
    2 weeks ago

    In my opinion, this question is morbid. Yes, I’ve heard, “we’re most alive when we know we’re going to die;” yet, I prefer not to dwell on that. Nevertheless, if I were privy to the knowledge that it is my last day, I would gather my husband, my children, and my parents, and my cats to hug, laugh, dance, and breathe together.

  14. Joseph
    Joseph McCann
    2 weeks ago

    Out of doors to experience the grandeur of this home we temporarily share with all beings. Peace and love.

    1. Elizabeth H67151
      Elizabeth H
      2 weeks ago

      I got such a chuckle yesterday out of your “little bit of strangeness thrown in for good measure”, Joseph! Peace and love.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 weeks ago

        I did too . . . 🙂

  15. D
    Deann
    2 weeks ago

    I would spend my time with my children, mom, sister (her family) and my dog. I’d also spend a few moments with loved friends. There would be laughter, love and ice cream and brownies.

    1. Mary
      Mary
      1 week ago

      Oh yes, brownies, definitely brownies, Leanne!

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