Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise,  sunset

Sunrise,  sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight into sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise,  sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

---Fiddler on the Roof "Sunrise, Sunset"

The lyrics to Sunrise, Sunset mean so much to Shelly and me that

Ron and Maryann sang these gorgeous lyrics at our wedding.

The focus then was on Tevye and Golde's duet:

"Is this the little girl I carried?  Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older, when did they?"

"When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?"

The lyrics are timeless, and they resonate differently for each of the seasons of our lives.

The seasons in the islands have given us many beautiful sunrises and sunsets, 

and many, many happy moments.

In mid-October, though, begins for me a bittersweet season.

It was three years ago this month we lost my mom, Cissie, 

and two years ago this month my dad, Bob.

Despite the years and the distance, they are never far from my thoughts,

and sunrises and sunsets are colored with their memory. 

"One season following another, laden with happiness and tears . . ."