After the families have visited for the evening, tethered their well wishes like
Balloons to the backs of chairs, taken photos of the first hours of life, my mother
Checks in on the preemies, often healthy but occasionally too yellow, or pink, or blue.
Deflated and in need of oxygen, they are held together by some order,
Exhausted by the urgency of being saved. For every tiny
Fledgling that leaves the unit, there is always another in need of touch.
Gloved, my mother cared through a thin layer of separation while
Holding the head of a baby born smaller than a shadow.
I think she liked the all-nighters, especially in early
January, babies born just after the New Year. She liked doing the
Kind things that love cannot do: adjusting another woman's breast,
Lifting the pillow under her head so the baby slips just above the
Mother's ribs, offering advice or comfort before returning to the
NICU, the tectonic plates of mother and child drifting together then apart.
Often she delighted in the midnight coos, a love song for the
Phantom ache of babies she could never carry, those tiny loaves
Quick, unleavened, so eager to take touch like communion, while she loved what
Remained, leaving her impoverished soul open and gaping.
She shuffled through our house as if they were long, antiseptic corridors,
There but not there. Such is the life of one in service to others,
Under no illusions about the gift of grace. My mother, whose
Voice is the sound of love becoming, seldom wondered
What became of those raindrops, whose first days of life were
X-rayed, poked, prodded--their sentences commuted to time served.
Yet, they will not remember this time when they were barely more than
Zygotes, as it should be. As if they were never there.
Lifestyle
April 26, 2007
Night Work
- Lifestyle
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- North Shore religion news in brief The Gordon College Department of Political Science and Christians in Political Science will host the Christians in Political Science Conference (CPS) on Thursday, May 31, through Saturday, June 2, on the college's campus, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham. The CPS conference, themed "Power and Justice: Perspectives on Political Order," provides Christian political scientists with a unique forum to explore how faith impacts teaching and scholarship. Events include a keynote address on Friday, June 1, 7 p.m. by college president D. Michael Lindsay titled "Higher Power? How Christians Use Power to Shape the World Around Us"; and founder and director of Yale Center for Faith and Culture Miroslav Volfe, and Henry B. Wright, professor of theology at Yale University Divinity School will deliver the annual Kuyper Lecture on "A Public Faith: A Christian Alternative to Secular and Religious Political Exclusivism" on June 2, 7 p.m. Keynote lectures are free and open to the public. For details and a complete conference schedule, visit http://www.gordon.edu/cps.
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North Shore religion calendar
Saturday, May 26
Pentecost Eve Annual Conference, beginning at 9 a.m., Christ the Redeemer Church, 188 Elliott St., Danvers. "One in Spirit: Overcoming Barriers to Unity," a conference featuring a day of worship and teaching by guest speakers and several local pastors representing different North Shore congregations. Closing Eucharist at 5 p.m., followed by dinner. This is the closing event of 10 Days of Prayer, in which daily worship services were hosted by various local congregations. Join in preparation for Pentecost. www.10DaysNorthshore.com. - A real seasonal recipe — moss soup Q: You told me once, but I lost it in my brain. How do I make moss to plant between flagstone from the moss I already have? I know it's mixed with something and poured between whatever. Much appreciated your input.
- The Buzz: Most cat lovers like them mixed Less than 1 percent of the total feline population are pedigreed cats. The rest are usually cat-egorized by coat length in the United States, with veterinarians marking them in the records as domestic longhairs (DLH) or domestic shorthairs (DSH). Cats of no particular breed are sometimes also referred to as "alley cats" in the United States. In the United Kingdom, they're called "moggies."
- Ask Dog Lady: Who makes Walters cha-cha-cha? Q: I am wondering if you could tell me what kind of dog Barbara Walters owns? I saw her with her dog on "The View" over a year ago and cannot remember what breed it is. It is the name of someplace in Mexico, I think. The dog was longhaired and a smaller breed; very smart and affectionate. Please help.
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Quick pick
The Climate Reality Project
Learn about pressing climate issues on Wednesday, May 30 at 7 p.m., during a lecture on the Climate Reality Project (CRP). Tina Woolston, the director of the Office of Sust -
Iconic '80s band Psychedelic Furs to play in SalemMay 26th in Salem
They've played bingo every Friday night for decades at St. John the Baptist Church in Salem.
In the future, these will be followed on Saturday nights, about once a month, by concerts featuring some of the biggest names in rock 'n' roll. -
Audubon ecologist leads walk in search of dragonflies
Dragonflies are lords of the air. With iridescent colors and large sets of matching wings, they have a sinister beauty that puts military technology to shame.
"They're predators. They eat insects," said Audubon ecologist Robert Buchsbaum, who will lead a walk through Beverly Commons Woodland this Sunday in search of dragonflies and damselflies. "They're strong fliers. They look like B-52s, colorfully marked." -
North Shore Entertainment Calendar
Music
HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT. Thursday, May 24, 7 p.m., Beverly High School, 100 Sohier Road, Beverly. Beverly High School Music Department presents a concert featuring BHS's band, strings and choral groups under the direction of Carolyn Pilanen-Kudlik and Raymond Novack; Novack's final BHS concert before retirement. Concert includes premiere performance of "Supernova," a concert band piece written by 1993 BHS graduate and band member, Michael Benoit. Details at lpilanen@beverlyschools.org. -
North Shore community calendar
Saturday, May 19
Topsfield: Cleanup Day, 8 a.m. to noon, Town Hall, 8 W. Common St. Residents and community groups are encouraged to adopt a street, neighborhood or community area and help pick up litter. Check in at the Town Hall parking lot. Refreshments and healthy snacks provided. All participants may pick up trash bags and disposable gloves. Masco students seeking community service hours are encouraged to help out. Rain or shine. higginswendy@verizon.net, gwrehak@verizon.net or 978-887-1500. - More Lifestyle Headlines
