THE COTTAGE IS FOR ALL

A few days ago, a friend was having a rough time,

needed some time away from her daily life.

She was worried about coming to the Cottage would

interfere with The Boo or I's visits.

So I say here, a few things to all.

First, the Cottage belongs to me only on the Deed,

where my name is boldly printed,

LILLIAN COLLINS RIERA

yet it belongs to all, all those who call

me sister, aunt, Mom, Mumsie, friend, etc.

The Cottage, like a church, is just a structure without

people in it and enjoying it.

The Cottage brings me peace, joy, relaxation, creativity.

The Boo visits but his time here is limited due to work

and owning his own home. His visiting here

should never influence anyones choice to come here.

Whether you need a day or a night to refresh or

a week or month to "get away", 

whether I am at the Cottage or gone,

all are welcomed here, 

ALL ARE WELCOMED HERE.

It is only a structure without the people I love

surrounding it.

Another Fallen Classmate...

Just when I believe this blog will take a turn

to happier moments, another dear classmate and

friend has died.

Greg Terry.

He and I were not best buds but he was that

to two of my closest friends,

my cousin Reggie and my pal, Patrick.

Not many days passed in the highschool era that

Reggie, Greg and sometimes Patrick were not together.

As Reggie texted to me last night,

"...Not a day in Jr. high and high school was Greg and

I not together, like you and Laurie and Ann."

I remember that vividly, one day in particular.

I was driving around in my orange Pinto and

decided to go hang with the cuz,

Who was there, none other than Greg Terry.

We sat around and talked for hours probably about

everyone else in our class.

He was a kind man but over the years I have lost

touch with him yet his name came up lots in the

last year when I began to rekindle the friendships

between Patrick, Reggie and I.

We are not old yet, we are 53-give or take a year or two.

Yet when our parents were that age, we believed that was old.

Our classmates are too young to say goodbye to this life.

However, like the last few blogs I believe they are on

the journey of a lifetime, one all of us here on Earth cannot

understand and some of us fear.

RIP Greg and may all who love you know 

you, my dear have entered into the phase of

FOREVER LIFE.

Ironic

Ironic is what it is. 

If I ever needed confirmation that 

Blogging, sharing my thoughts was

Something I must do, I received that yesterday. 

Bestie Ann and I made it to the funeral

Of our dear friend and classmate Roxanne. 

We met Laurie there with her bestie babies. 

As I make it to the front of the church to

Pay my respects to the family many memories

Flood back. Roxanne in high school, 

Roxanne working with us at the hospital, 

Roxanne playing Pokeno with our group

For many years. I stop to speak and give hugs to 

Rox's parents and then her dear daughter, Who is

An adult now. She is so composed. So much like her Mother

In that way. I think she may not remember me 

From our Pokeno days when she was a little girl

So I remind her of who I am. 

She counters back with 

"Oh yeah, I remember you because of your blog. 

My Mom loved your blog and often shared from 

It or had me read it" 

Wow! I now know I don't do this just for me

But for those who may get something out of the

Things I write. 

I ask for permission to use her Mom and she says 

"Blog away, please!" 

So today I begin a routine once again involving 

Early mornings, a cup of coffee and 

A blog. 

Thanks Alyssa for showing me the way 

Random thoughts..

I have not blogged much lately,

not journaling much either,

I've lost the habit due to not doing them often enough.

So today, I know I have to get back to blogging.

I have had some unsettling days lately when it comes

to death. Young people, about my age dying.

Some from dreaded big C and

another unexpected and shocking.

I don't know why death is so unsettling 

for me right now.

Is it because you just never know when the

earthly life is over or am I too far from 

my faith? Let me share some of my thoughts here:

I know there is something else after this life, 

My faith is strong in that.

My fears are that I don't know the process

and I have big fears of the unknown,

it is most of our worst fear,

fear of the unknown.

At the funeral of a friend,

who passed unexpectedly, I am told by her father in law,

"It's just too fast, maybe after a long illness,

but this, you can't plan for this"

I think a lot about that since then.

Until my dear high school friend died after

battling cancer for over two years.

I visited with her last summer when hope was

still such a big part of her life.

She inspired me, sitting there so beautiful in 

her words, thin, showing off her wigs,

never giving up on the "next treatment"

Her last week, she suffered and her family could

do nothing but be with her and be her advocate.

So I now believe, whether you are taken unexpectedly 

or after a long illness, it is just not ever easy for

our Earthly beings.

I know both these friends, having lived their lives

for others, are no doubt going to a better place.

It is us, left behind to wonder, are made to 

struggle with their loss.

And for me? I continue to wonder what is after

this life. It is not meant to be known.

RIP Marie and Roxanne.