Friday, November 12, 2010

Slipper orchids





Here on top of our little ridge a wild, banshee wind is battering the rickety old farmhouse, rattling the shutters and efficiently stripping the last of the leaves from the trees. Miraculously, down in the valley it's as calm as a May Day. Wilf and I sat at the cafe in the market town watching the firemen form up and march off to unveil the restored statue to the 1870 Franco-Prussian war. This ceremony was supposed to have happened yesterday but somehow didn't.

The village Armistice service was a sweet, kind, heartfelt sort of affair. The mayor read out something official and uplifting that only those in the front row could hear. Then he recited each of the thirty two names on the war memorial. A pause between each and a response ' mort pour la France. The mayors grandfather the first on the long list, the lady in the purple hats ancestors the ninth and Madame Bays the eleventh. To finish the little lady in the purple hat sang the Marsellais in a quiet, declamatory way. A reminder that behind the brass bands and martial bravado all national anthems are really simple conversations about lifes two lasting emotions - happiness and sorrow.

In the afternoon a walk with Wilf through the fields. The verges of the lane alive with slipper orchids , the sky a pandemonium of scudding clouds. After ten minutes he uncharacteristically settled down in the middle of the path, head down, nose to the wind, ears flapping. I knelt by him stroking his tired head. The realisation that long walks are now a thing of the past - memories to be retained and savoured in gentle sleep. We turned and headed slowly back home. Another marker on his journey .

29 comments:

  1. Happiness and Sorrow.
    Such is our way in the world.
    Pat that head for me, too.

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  2. Hear, hear! Give 'im a pat from us, too.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  3. Try not to think of lost pleasures but of the added days of grace that you've been able to spend with this remarkable companion of yours. His valor during his illness is to be envied.

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  4. All the same lovely walk for Wilf and a nice ceremony remembering those who gave.

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  5. Oh dear old WIlf. At least he had a lovely place to stop when he'd had enough of walking. Today's post took me straight back to the day last February when I foolishly took Hamish down to the beach promenade in a near blizzard and he collapsed, all trembling, and I had to carry him back to the car.
    Gail.

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  6. Such is our way in the world and our way with our dogs. Head pats from us as well!

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  7. I would love to spend just ten minutes with you Wilf, having such fun in that beautiful countryside!
    Mum says she wishes she could pat your soft,furry head too.
    Enjoy your gentle extra days of fun.
    Luv Rooxx

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  8. Oh give him yet another pat from us...touching hearts is old Wilf and teaching us something too. You might whisper a little "thankyou" in his ear on our behalf...

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  9. No matter how long or short the walks are, it is still a very much savoured journey for Wilf and you. Wonderful moments to treasure with a fellow companion. We are just behind you on all your walks with sweet Wilf. Just a wee bit behind you.

    My love to the furry one. His life lessons remind me each day to look at life his way. His way is surely the better way.

    Do consider putting all your journey with Wilf in a book Angus. I will be the first one to buy it and i'm sure it will be a bestseller. You have much to share with the world.

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  10. I'm always amazed no matter the complexity of whatever the circumstance or situation, how it always boils down to the yin and yang. you cannot have light without dark, happiness without sorrow. It just all boils down to that universal balance. hugs to Wilf.

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  11. The slipper orchid is lovely. Good job finding it Wilf.

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  12. No matter how long or short each walk, it is blessed time.

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  13. Thank you again for allowing us to join you and Wilf on your journey.

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  14. Once again Angus, your descriptions are wonderful. I can just imagine and hear in my mind the Marsellais being sung softly and slowly, by a lady in a purple hat. Will be carrying positive and warm thoughts for all of you today.

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  15. I loved your words today, and they rang very true! I think that Wilf has the right way of things, enjoying and savoring all of life's moments.

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  16. Sounds like it was a beautiful day, even though the subject is quite sad.

    Sam

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  17. Beautiful Lady Slippers! Looks like the winds are bringing winter to your corner of the world. Take each step as it comes and savor the beauty of the moment. A true lesson from Wilf. Happy weekend! xo

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  18. PS the Mafia Sauce was divine. My dogs will get a bite later in their dinner!

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  19. How sad that Wilf's walks are shorter now. This reminds me so painfully of my elderly standard poodle, who could just about stagger to the field but could only stand and watch as the other dogs played together. He would look at me with his beautiful big brown eyes as I stroked his head and tried to explain that he couldn't do that any more but we still loved him.

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  20. Happiness and sorrow. You lyrically described your day, leaving me feeling like I wanted to rest with Wilf in the middle of the lane because sometimes the sorrow overtakes us. You are the best shepherd and loving caretaker for Wilf that I can imagine.

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  21. Hey there Angus...
    I absolutely love that wind-swept picture of Wilf! How about a picture sometime of "Dad and Wilf together"? You two have had such an amazing journey together, it would be lovely to see a bit of it in picture form.
    Thank you for sharing this difficult journey with us all. Your amazing companion is doing incredibly well (so are you!) and it is quite unbelievable that we are able to savour these unexpected days of grace! Cheers to many more of them!!!
    Sending lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SA
    PS Please give a really special hug to Wilf from me!

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  22. Happiness and sorrow. These days with Wilf a poem to life's bittersweet twins.

    I love that each of the characters in your daily vignettes have a role to play in the life of the village.

    xxx Joan

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  23. it's always a nice walk with wilf, whether it be long or short. the orchid is stunning!

    the booker man and asa's mama

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  24. What a nice new picture of Wilf at the opening! Take your walks with ease and gentleness Wilf, and enjoy them as you will. Keep on going Wilf...until the next time!

    Your pals from chilly Canada,
    Dianna along with Tor, Willow and Tucker

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  25. A touching journey.... in many ways. If we all could be given such care as you are giving to Wilf.
    Anne from the west of Scotland

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  26. We love the new banner photo: light jousting with dark, and Wilf - of course - looking towards the light.

    The description of the walk was elegiac. Orchids blooming so late? Enjoyed the description of the Armistice commemoration. Don't know how many towns there are left in America where current residents can point to monuments bearing the names of actual ancestors who went to war from the same town. We're such a restless people, moving so much, that those links of continuity get lost, along with the sense of history they provide. And, of course, our day is a more general Veterans' Day, commemorating more than one war, including current losses and those still to come.

    Jed & Abby

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  27. Happiness and sorrow -- so true!

    Thank you again for allowing us to join you and Wilf on your journey.

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