Mother's visit: Keukenhof 2013 (II e último)

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

Mother's visit: Keukenhof 2013 (I)

Mommy has already returned to Portugal. She loved to be here! This time, we took her to the Flower Exhibition Park Keukenhof in Lisse. She enjoyed it very much, in spite of the chilly weather (April, 21) and only having a few blossomed flowers. Since mommy can't walk for long time, I reserved (for free) a wheelchair in the park, so she could enjoy it in a relaxed and comfortable way.
Enjoy the photos and the music!
Stay well!! ;-)

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

From Keukenhof 2013

Long Live the King! / Lang Leve de Koning!

The key moments of an unforgetable day:

The abdication of the former Queen Beatrix (now princess of the Netherlands) and the investiture (inhuldiging) of the new King Willem-Alexander

The boat trip in the IJ River in Amsterdam

The King's song (Koningslied)

The great surprise of the Royal Family to DJ Armin van Buuren

The Final Show at Museumplein in Amsterdam hosted by André Rieu

Mommy, Beatrix and Willem-Alexander

I am very happy. My mother is here in the Netherlands to spend some time with us. We have been enjoying each other's company and the weather, so far, has been nice. In spite of the fact that my mother has many difficulties to walk, we have been able to do some (very) short walks to the city center and have some fun shopping.

Today my dear mother will enjoy with us a historical day in the Netherlands: at 10 am, Queen Beatrix will sign her abdication in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam and her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, will become King of the Netherlands. Beatrix abdicates as her mother, the former Queen Juliana, and her grandmother, the former Queen Willemina. Half hour after the official abdication, Beatrix, Willem-Alexander and Máxima will make a brief appearance on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Both, mother and son, will make a short speech and, minutes later, the three princesses (Amalia - who will become Princess of Orange -, Alexia and Ariane) will join their parents.

In the afternoon, between 14:00 and 15:30, the official investiture (inhuldiging) - which has a secular character, opposite to the religious character of  a coronation - will take place in the Nieuwe Kerk in Dam square. We will be following this special event at home. Willem-Alexander will promise to uphold the constitution and most of the members of the houses of the parliament will swear their allegiance to the new king. In spite of the fact that no coronation will take place, the crown (symbol of the sovereignty and dignity), the sceptre (authority) and the orb (the territory of the kingdom) will be placed on a cushion next to the throne.

Reading how the investiture will occur, I remembered the paintings of the Portuguese kings of our last dinasty (Braganza), always next to the crown, placed on a cushion, and not wearing it. As you may know,  Portuguese kings stopped wearing the crown in 1646. After the end of 60 years of Spanish rule, Dom João IV - the first king of the Braganza dinasty - offered the Portuguese crown to Our Lady of Conception, since then, considered the patroness and Queen of Portugal.

Have fun out there, if you are in the Netherlands! Enjoy your last Queen's Day!

Bedankt Beatrix!
Succes Willem-Alexander!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU...

From Coisas Minhas III

BOA PÁSCOA!

VROLIJK PASEN! 

HAPPY EASTER!

Writing a letter to my beloved cat

My dear Fofinho,

How are you doing in Paradise?

I miss you so much...

I would like to let you know I've received two special cards, one from your veterinary team, and the other one from Majesta - the friends that helped us bring you back home.

This was the message sent by your vet team:

From Coisas Minhas III

Gecondoleerd met het overlijden van Fofinho. Eerst een plekje in jullie huis; nu een grote plaats in jullie hart.

(As nossas condolências pela morte do Fofinho. Se antes, com um cantinho especial na vossa casa; agora, com um espaço imenso nos vossos corações.)

This is the message sent by Majesta (huisdierencrematoria):

From Coisas Minhas III

Zeg me dat je nooit weg
zult gaan.
Dat kan ik je niet beloven.
Maar als je aan me denkt,
zul je me zien,
heel even,
in de verte.

Diz-me que nunca me deixarás,
irás embora.
Isso eu não posso prometer.
Mas se pensares em mim,
irás ver-me,
ainda que brevemente,
ao longe.

Lovely, both of them, don't you think? :-)

I think you'll be pleased to know that your travel box, medication and fluid bottles were given to the Almere's Dierenasiel (animals shelter) and your food (wet and dry) to your friend Taco. By the way, all your cat friends have been here asking for you.

Aunt R. was here to give me her support in the day you traveled to Paradise. She couldn't come earlier to say goodbye because she was receiving her parent's visit from Barcelona.
Your beloved M. was here in the following day, Friday evening. I noticed he is very tired and sad - his mother is being in a coma, on and off, in the nursery home.  He told me he is closing her house and soon he will give the keys to her landlord. He is exhausted. M., as you know, is a very caring son and he is suffering a lot with this situation.
This Monday evening, your dear N. was here too with her mother. N. said she and her friends were very pleased to have spent some time with you two days before your departure to Paradise. Her mother was very sweet to me. She is a very good listener, you know...:-)
Aunt M. has sent us a message from Indonesia. You had a great time with her little ones, before they left for holidays, didn't you? ;-)
H. has also sent you a kiss. We will meet each other soon. As you know, I wasn't able to go to her mother's funeral (it took place on the day after your blood transfusion and EPO injection, remember?).
M. and P. also sent their love. They returned to Poland on the week you got worse, but since then we have been in touch by email.
S. was very sad too with your departure.
You left many friends here in the Netherlands, do you know that? :-)

I want to ask you something.

From Coisas Minhas III

Are you pleased with your new box? I don't need to explain you why I chose this one, right? ;-)

My dear, you looked so lovely and peaceful at the Goodbye Room, laid down on the white pillow. The candles and the music helped us to say goodbye, don't you think? :-)

I hope you are enjoying yourself in Paradise. Please, don't be very stubborn with the people there.

Thanks for the other day. You know what I'm talking about ...;-)

We miss you.

I send you this photo. Not very good, I know, but you look great, as usual.

From Coisas Minhas III

Beijinhos,

Sandra

Obrigada por tudo, meu querido, obrigada

Jack: Why love, if losing hurts so much? I have no answers anymore: only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I've been given the choice: as a boy and as a man. The boy chose safety, the man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal. 

(Shadowlands, 1993)

Só sei, que neste momento, ele deve estar a correr pelos jardins do Paraíso.
Aconteceram muitas coisas nestas duas semanas. Contarei aqui, mais tarde - agora é tempo de recolhimento. E não, não foi  de eutanásia que ele faleceu, embora estivesse marcada para amanhã. Foi de morte natural - como era nosso desejo, desejo dele - na nossa casa, nos meus braços, com tempo e com amor como ajuda.
Nestes últimos dias, fomos particularmente felizes juntos. Combinámos que um dia, ele voltaria à minha vida, desta vez "para pagar o favor": como voluntário, na minha velhice, e que, nos meus últimos dias, me daria as minhas comidas favoritas, me levaria a apanhar sol e a ver o mar, e reuniria as minhas amigas para uma tarde final bem passada.
Lutou até ao fim. Foi o mais corajoso de nós todos. A insuficiência renal "viu-se grega" com ele. Foi hoje, à 01:45. Nós os dois, sozinhos, como soubémos sempre que iria ser. O meu marido não teve mesmo oportunidade de estar presente, mas isso foi um mero pretexto do Universo, que este momento - estava escrito-,  tinha de ser só nosso. Contudo, ainda falaram ao telefone e a segunda-feira foi mais deles que outra coisa.
Tenho chorado muito nestes dias. Muito, muito. Como disse, ele foi sempre o mais corajoso dos dois. Garanto-vos que fez frente à doença até ao final.
Vejo-o em cada canto desta casa, o que fazia aqui, o que fazia ali. É a ela que ele vai regressar, depois da cremação, que se irá realizar amanhã, de forma individual e com direito a uma salinha privada para nos despedirmos.
No exacto momento depois da sua morte, começou a cair neve da forma mais bonita que alguma vez vi. Fiquei a ver pela janela da cozinha, parada, encantada. Foi o presente-surpresa que ele me enviou para me tranquilizar nesta hora difícil e dizer que estes 16 anos valeram muito a pena, e, como tal, tinham de ser celebrados com um espectáculo bonito, de algo que gostássemos muito.
O carinho e a coragem que ele revelou, a entrega e a generosidade, as graças permanentes, a fidelidade constante, o apoio incondicional, ficarão para sempre no meu coração. Falámos tudo nestes dois últimos dias e creio que as palavras que mais lhe disse foram "Obrigada, Muito Obrigada". E como tudo isto passa muito depressa, vai na volta, é só um "Até já". Obrigada por tudo, meu querido, obrigada.