Sylvia's Journal

It is now Sunday morning; one wedding and one memorial service after my last post. The wedding took place on Friday at a beautiful estate west of Boston. There are several of these jewels hidden in the woods around Boston. They harken back to the good old days when wealth could buy you distance from the misery of poor city dwellers; wide vistas, big lawns cut by hired hands, verandas to catch the sun or shade from it any time of the day, light everywhere and rain spouts made from copper.

The weather was on our side – a lovely late summer afternoon amidst family and friends, good food, good drinks and a smiling couple. For me it was also a reunion of sorts as the bride and groom had met in Afghanistan as MSH employees. It was thus also a coming together of MSH’s Afghan hands, including its founder; some flying in from as far as France and Japan. Most are still with MSH except the bride and groom.

I was paying close attention to the many creative touches of the wedding organizers. Exactly one year from now Tessa and Steve will wed. Years ago when the date was picked we thought it was an eternity, but now we are getting close.

The next day we paid our respects to Axel’s cousin Anne who died this summer, succumbing to two vicious cancers.  Axel and Tessa had gone out to California to say their goodbyes.

Anne’s husband flew to Manchester with her ashes. We had a brief service at the graveside where her mom and dad are buried. Many from her high school class were there as many had remained in the neighborhood. Family from Cape Ann, New York and the South Shore also attended. And so we had another reunion, this time at our house, which lasted into the evening. We looked at pictures and reminisced, enjoying, for a second day in a row, a beautiful late summer afternoon, in the company of friends and family, with good food, good drink and a swim in Lobster Cove’s clear waters.

The third reunion was with the grand kids and their parents. They stayed the night. I couldn’t be happier. Saffi is now 2 months old and working hard on strengthening her neck muscle, much like I am working hard to strengthen my shoulder except she does it without weights and rubber bands. She has started to explore her surroundings with greater interest and smiles when Faro comes into view. It’s all one big treat. And now breakfast: pancakes in honor of Faro.