If you find a penny…

It was a dreamy evening, the other night…after dark…sitting on the deck, watching the lunar eclipse. It was called the blood moon. I learned, “a “Blood Moon” happens because the sunlight shining directly onto Earth passes through the atmosphere and is projected onto the moon–giving it a red tone during the eclipse.*” It was amazing to watch. I’ve always been fascinated by the moon……

Photo of a postcard, with a moonrise watercolor by Dee Teller.

This was happening after a long day. We had driven up north of Brainerd – and back home again – to attend my uncle’s memorial service.

The cover of the memorial service brochure. All the stockings of this family hung with care.
Christmas 2021.

Uncle Bob was 94 years old when he died, last December. I last saw him in August. He was in fairly good health (he drove us to his granddaughter’s cabin down the road a couple of miles), although his hearing had deteriorated a lot.

A favorite photo of Uncle Bob in Norway.

My uncle, my dad’s brother, was a kind and loving man. He was special to both Gary and I, and many others. His memorial service was well attended. They had a wonderful program and fun photos all around. During the luncheon afterwards, some of the grandchildren handed out a scrolled-up piece of paper with a ditty about…If you find a penny think of Bob. I dismissed it as cute…but not apropos.

Some of Bob Kallestad’s family.

Later, as I was sitting on the deck and going over the day’s events in my mind, I found myself lamenting the fact that I didn’t have an elder in my life to talk things over with anymore. I found myself talking to Uncle Bob a bit that night on the deck, in the dark, watching the moon disappear – and soon Gary came and joined me as we watched the lunar eclipse together.

When we went in for the night, I stepped into my closet for something and as I reached to turn out the light there was a penny on the closet floor. An unlikely place to find a penny. 

A penny on our closet floor.

It made me smile…

* NPR 05/16

8 thoughts on “If you find a penny…”

  1. Wow, that gave me chills Valerie! I often talk to family and friends who have passed. I really enjoy your posts!

  2. Remarkable. Bob. Your love for him. The memorial service photo. And then finding that penny on your closet floor. What a gift, all of this, as you honor and celebrate your uncle.

  3. What a sweet story! I know he was precious to you. I love the photo of him in Norway! I’d like to see one of you in a similar setting! That would be so cool!

    1. I’d like that too! Maybe I’ll have a chance for some good photos.
      I do have one of me and a horse in a field in Norway…

  4. I am sitting here smiling at this story. What a lovely experience for you to have. Our lives are full of delightful little treats like that. We just need to be paying attention. Thanks for sharing, Valerie!

    1. I like your words “delightful little treats”. It is fun to notice them…

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