My lovely friend Louise gave me this gorgeous dragonfly cushion yesterday. More than a pretty cushion, though, she gave it to me in recognition of a significant friend visitation I had early in August. A recently deceased friend sent me a dragonfly visit as a gift and I’d mentioned it to Louise who completely understood. Hence, this cushion that she happened to have on hand as an extra throw pillow. Did I have a place for it? Did I like it? Louise worried. Oh did I have a place for it! The colour is in the same red/ purplely range of the cushions on my deacon’s bench by the front door. It sits there now as a cherished memory and gesture disguised as a pretty pillow. Wedged between a pretty maroon and gold elephant cushion cover (a gift from my friend Linda) and a sweet heart-shaped pillow from one of my step-daughters, it fits perfectly. It is now something to greet and ground me as I return home or a memory I can pluck and carry with me when I leave the house. The heart-shaped pillow from my step-daughter Carole was not meant for me. Nor was it originally meant for Rob, my hubby. On the first ever Family Day holiday on 17th February 2009, Rob had a massive heart attack at work. He was resuscitated by strangers at the scene (as far as I can tell) and ended up having emergency surgery at our local hospital. Terrifying. Rob has a big family—six children, five with his ex-wife, Judy. Those five children (Carole was the youngest at age 20) and Judy all joined me at the hospital and we waited and visited over days. At the time of the heart attack, Carole wasn’t talking to her dad (can’t remember why now but families sometimes) but she arrived at the hospital with her boyfriend and the cushion that I think he must have given her for Valentine’s Day. It has a little pocket in the front so possibly came with a little stuffie or chocolates. She hugged that pillow all the time we were in the family room waiting for Rob to come out of surgery. Rob had three stents placed in his arteries and to facilitate his healing, he was sedated and a condition similar to hypothermia was induced. We didn’t know for a couple of days if there had been any brain or nerve damage. Fortunately he made a complete and rapid recovery. I remember maybe 5 days later walking into his hospital room and he was sat in a huge chair with all the kids somehow perched around him, hanging onto him. At first I was mortified. He needed calm! And quiet! And rest! Not this constant babble and chaos and…I took a closer look. Rob looked so happy. Everyone radiated love. Even Carole who was hugging her dad fiercely. Somewhere in that hospital time, the little heart pillow had been left with Rob beside him on the bed. I think everyone who sat with him had held that pillow to their own hearts at some time. When it was time for Rob to come home, I asked Carole if she wanted it back. She smiled. “Nah. Dad can keep it. He needs it more.” The dragonfly cushion from Louise is in excellent company. Day 249 #365daysofsybwriting #365daysofhaiku Cushions by the door long ago and yesterday plump with memories Day 6 of Effy Wild’s Blogalong
3 Comments
Susan Renshaw
9/7/2021 12:13:28 am
Another lovely haiku - and a heartwarming story...
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AuthorWelcome! I'm Sue Blott: a writer of all things, a poet at heart, mom, wife, daughter, step-mom, grandma, tea drinker, tai chi-er, mystic, artist, dreamer...and now a blogger! This is my world. Categories |