Today's blog is kind of a natural progression from the past few blogs. With this week holding Bone Marrow Transplant Day and my mom's birthday, I think sharing this story is fitting.
One night, during Ashlyn's treatment, my sister in law, Denise called for a status report. We got to talking and she brought up this very thing. Before she could finish her question to me, I answered "Yes."
My mom was the first person I talked to about Ashlyn. Danny had called me at work to tell me the test results. I didn't stay on the phone with him. I told my boss I had to go. He said he was sorry. And I was gone.
As soon as my car door shut, I began the conversation with my mom. Now my image of Mom in Heaven is pretty clear. She is sitting in a pretty comfortable chair with my grandparents. I don't clearly see my grandpa, but my grandma is clearly there is a very comfortable chair. Both my mom and grandma are busy with their hands. I always remembered my grandma as busy so this seems natural. As soon as I started talking to my mom, all Heavenly conversation stops and Grandma and Grandpa are listening.
The entire drive home I am in a conversation with Mom. Her hand firmly in her mother's hand. The other, on my heart. I was not alone in that car. She was telling me faith. I had some, but would have much more of that later.
Once I got home, my mom left me. Like any good Martin, she needed to spread the word about Ashlyn. Mom's Heavenly network has to be pretty impressive and I don't think she wasted any time getting the rosary beads going. That is my picture of Grandma Martin, beads silently flowing through her fingers. The Hail Mary's floating from her lips. Grandpa Martin, I see him rather stoic. Maybe he knows that Ashlyn is orny like I was, like he was. He came back from death once, he knows she will, too.
What I picture my mom doing next, and I think it was what Ashlyn and Denise pictured as well, is getting up and marching across Heaven to where Danny's Grandma Lucy was sitting. Grandma Lucy had died long before Danny was ever born. We don't know a lot about her but Ashlyn has made a connection to her. We got to watch her dancing in home movies several years ago, and in that dancing, laughing woman, Ashlyn saw herself. So there is my mom coming up to this lady she has never met. There would have been a quick introduction, and then right to the heart of the matter.
So there is the beauty that is Heaven unites two women with one thing in common, Ashlyn. Well, two things, Ashlyn and Irish ancestry. Together, with the rest of the Snow, Martin, White, Cleveland clans, they begin to see Ashlyn through. Ashlyn comes from a long line of strong women. She had to feel that presence. In the breeze the rustles the Family Tree, she got her strength.
So often during Ashlyn's treatment, I returned to these thoughts. My mom, as she was right before she got sick. Lucy, able to walk, to dance. My Grandpa Martin, in overalls and a wide brimmed hat, having a talk with a saint or two, you know, seeing if they could pull some strings. This network of family all pulling for this girl that most never met, but knew. She was one of them and they were part of her.
I had similar thoughts when Danny was in Iraq. Both of his grandfathers were military men. I am sure that they were helping Danny keep an eye out.
Now, when crisis arises in my family, I know there is a untied force watching out for us. Most of them, Fighting Irish!
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