Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Corpus Christi.

My roommate and I were still recovering from our New York trip, when we got the sad news that our advisor's wife lost her fight with cancer last Friday. We piled into a friend's car and drove down to Corpus Christi yesterday for the memorial service, and for the funeral this morning. I didn't know her very well, but it was clear from the memories people shared that she was a very special woman.

If any of you are in Texas, you know that the weather's been stormy this week. The rain lashed against our windshield as we drove into Corpus yesterday, but even with the thick gray clouds, we were still excited to see the ocean and to smell the water in the air. Today, as we waited in church for the mass to begin, the stained glass windows brightened gradually as the sun finally came out. It was entirely fitting that L. should be laid to rest on a beautiful morning like this, after the storms subsided.

On the way back, we decided to skirt the main highways and take some less-traveled backroads. More storms seemed to be moving in. We saw some indescribably beautiful countryside--wide horizons, thunderclouds in the distance, and farms lining the roads. Something about the quality of the storm's light made the green of the mesquite trees preternaturally bright. I looked down at the sock I was knitting. The colors in my Hill Country sock yarn were exactly like those in the passing landscape.

Luckily, we avoided today's storm by staying on the back roads (some friends of ours were not so lucky and drove through pounding rain on I35). By the time we made it home, the sun was out again and we saw bluebonnets by the side of the road. I finished a sock, and started another. More details on my trials and tribulations with this sock pattern in an upcoming post.

4 Comments:

At 12:30 AM, Blogger chris said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your advisor's wife. That must have been such a difficult trip to make. I'm glad that the sun came out for the service, though- I imagine that must have imparted such a sense of uplifting hope to all those who knew her. Glad to hear that you both made it back safe and sound after everything... on a lighter note, looking forward to seeing your socks! Take care, Olga! :-)

 
At 4:48 AM, Blogger Karen said...

It is always so comforting when nature seems to signal that a loved ones passing is okay. Like a sign from them to say they are happy. I'm so glad you guys chose the side roads on the trip back and not only avoided the storms, but had some nice scenary to admire.

 
At 12:59 PM, Blogger jennifer said...

lovely post

 
At 7:03 PM, Blogger Laura said...

I'm sorry, too, to hear about your advisor's wife. That's awful.

To second Chris, I am looking forward to hearing all about the socks. I am having ISSUES with my sock pal socks.

On a way lighter note, I thought you might like to see this post. Gnomes!

 

Post a Comment

<< Home