In Remembrance

Since it is Memorial day weekend I thought it appropriate to feature a book about remembering.  Cynthia Rylant's Missing May is the story of a young girl named Summer.  After Summer's parents died she was passed round from relative to relative until ending up with old Uncle Ob and Aunt May.  When May dies tragically Ob and Summer have to figure out how to keep going.  What is their new normal?

Even though this is a book about loss and remembrance it is not sad.  Instead it is told from Summer's point of view and is much more ponderous than sorrowful.  There are also humorous moments woven throughout.  When one of Summer's classmates, Cletus, comes over, Summer finds him weird but Ob finds him fascinating.  "Thing was, though, Ob really liked him...I found out Cletus's parents were pretty old...Maybe that's why Cletus and Ob had such an easy time of getting to be friends.  Cletus was used to older people.  And Ob appreciated anybody crazier than him."  Isn't it funny what brings people together?

When at Cletus's house, surrounded by pictures of Cletus and his happy adoring family, Summer (who has never known that kind of stability) reflects, "It made me think about the differences between Cletus and me.  About the way he could trust things to be all right. The way I worried about losing everything." But you can't worry forever.  Summer learns this in her own way and her own time.  There's a great image of casting out fears and worries at the end of the book-but you have to read the whole thing to appreciate it so I'll let you find that out for yourself.

And so as we take this weekend to reflect on those who have served our country and to remember their sacrifice I encourage you to take time to remember.  And for those who have loved ones currently serving I hope you can learn from Summer.  Sometimes you have to let go of your fears-you can't be worried about losing everything. The reality is that some people do lose everything and to those brave men and women I give my most sincere thanks.  I think Summer's journey through grieving is one many have to make, but it is stories like these that bring hope and in some small way make that journey easier.

Taking time to remember, and surrendering your fears...that's kids stuff.