First, I have been hearing “All You Need is Love” EVERYWHERE. I mean everywhere. On commercials, on the radio, from other people, on TV. On and on. Probably 10 times in 24 hours. So I look up the lyrics. “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done. Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game. It’s easy. There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made. No one you can save that can’t be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time - It’s easy. All you need is love, love is all you need. There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known. Nothing you can see that isn’t shown. Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be. It’s easy. All you need is love, love is all you need.”
I really read it, carefully, several times - it’s profound, like a message straight from… where? I don’t know. THERE, I suppose. While typing this week’s column, I saw the book “Big George,” so I went to the shelf and pulled it down. I hear a commercial playing - “All you need is love...” I open the book and see the following words: “to my angel loving daughter from her angel believing Mother. This is surely a very special book about those glorious, and humor-filled celestial Beings. I love you, Susie, Mom - 6/10/95
I finished editing Dad’s memoirs last night, and was re-checking the Christmas letters one last time, to make sure they were in the correct chronological order. One photo stood out, so I looked at it closely. It was me, age 9, 4th grade. I read Bill what I’d written, all about reading, and Duke, our dog. But then my eye drifted upward and I saw Mom. She looked just beautiful - the same age I am right now. I read HER entry: “I love the solid, precious feeling of hugging Susie.” So I think I will tell you that I am noticing what is happening around me. I am hearing the message that’s just for me right now - “there’s nothing you can see that isn’t shown. It’s easy. All you need is love.” My mother IS with me, loving the solid, precious feeling of hugging me, and connecting me on all levels. And me? Just breathing, my friend, just breathing, amazed at all the ‘coincidences.’ I am truly, utterly awed by it all. Thank you, Mom. I hear you, really I do. And I’m doing my best, really I am. But it’s hard sometimes, like that dream where I couldn’t stop crying because I knew you were dead. I WANT to feel you alive, please help me understand and accept that, Mom, even if it ISN’T on this physical plane. Just know that it’s all just because I love you so much, and you’re the one who’s remind me - “all you need is love.” So that’s what I’m doing - loving. Loving your memory, loving your love and your support, loving everything that is YOU, and loving the YOU that I see in me, ALL of you. Maybe that’s how you live forever. Through the rest of us. Am I catching on? I sure hope so. If not, I’ll just keep trying. Keep the messages coming, Mom - I’ll try to keep up.