Beauty 365 … Stories of Love and Life for Everyday

They say, ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder.’ I say it makes the heart ache! Day 19 was our eldest daughter’s birthday (26 - I really can’t believe it!), and although she, in fact, left home over three years ago, these virus days, more keenly than ever, I feel her absence.

I guess a few converging factors have compounded this ‘ache’. Firstly, the rest of us are altogether at home, living these days very closely, sharing each meal, each moment, each high and low! She is living alone in Sydney and although her fiancé lives in the neighbouring suburb, recent laws threatened to make their seeing each other illegal! She was faced with spending her birthday and Easter alone.

Secondly, there is something about actually not being allowed to see someone that makes you want to see them more! Before the virus, three of our children had actually planned to be with her for her birthday, and she had planned to spend the week after Easter with us in Melbourne, organising her wedding: florist visits, hair and make-up trials, cake tastings and other such fun and wonderful projects. All impossible now.

So, in our humble efforts to celebrate the life of our girl, she joined our evening meal via FaceTime. We sat the screen on the table, in her usual ‘spot’. We chatted as we always do, sang happy birthday and watched her open the gifts we had sent her during the week. It was a joyful and boisterous meal. It was lovely to see her so happy and peaceful.

Later in the evening we called her to discuss a wedding detail. She confided, “I had forgotten how crazy meal times are in our family!” I can picture her, switching off her computer at the end of the meal, savouring the sweet silence of her apartment. Or perhaps that’s just me, projecting!!