Paisley Days

Paisley Days

I’m looking back to yesterday
To days of laughter, smiles and play.
Where did all the memories go…
It all happened so long ago.

In the beginning, life was fun,
Paisley days in the summer sun.
Caught up in passion and love’s glow…
It all happened so long ago.

Years passed quickly as we grew old.
Once shining bright, now tarnished gold.
Trembling as cold winter winds blow…
It all happened so long ago.

I’m looking back to yesterday…
It all happened so long ago.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2026
October 3, 2026

Good evening, family and friends – I hope you are all doing well. I’d be lying if I said I was doing great. September completely kicked the wind out of my sails, to be quite honest. I had three days off this week, two for my Aunt Jean’s viewing and funeral Wednesday and Thursday in Maryland. On Friday, I had already scheduled a planned PTO day. It was an extremely difficult week. I am still completely exhausted, and feeling somber. Like I’m going through the motions. Yesterday I ran some errands, just to get myself out of the house. And today my biggest effort was to get my hair done and then come home and clean up my front porch. I even put up some Halloween lights outdoors and fall decorations. So I guess that is progress.

Being with all my cousins this week at my Aunt Jean’s funeral was very much needed, but very difficult to see everyone’s grief. But it was truly healing and good for my heart for us to be together. We cried together, held each other… and realize how important our family is to each other. A few of us went to lunch after Aunt Jean’s final graveside prayers. My cousins Art and Caroline have started the process of cleaning out her apartment. She was very orderly, so at least it is not completely overwhelming – apparently she had already started purging and donating. Still, I admire them and thanked them so much for taking on this huge responsibility! I am grateful to all the family members who have stepped up during this most difficult year.

I am going to need some time to process everything. That is how grief is. When you lose three close family members in the span of just six months, it is very unnerving. And when it is the final chapter of an entire generation, it is devastating and quite sobering. It makes you ponder your own mortality. My way of coping is to write. So you may see grief woven into upcoming writes. Or I may deviate completely from the subject and write about something funny or lighthearted.  I’m not sure exactly where this piece lands – somewhere in between the two.

I just wanted to extend my most sincere thanks to those who have extended your sympathies, good thoughts, love and condolences. THANK YOU from the bottom of my broken heart! I will get through this, but one is never quite the same after losing people that are so instrumental and woven into the fabric of your life! I love each and every one of you, and I appreciate your thinking of me and my family during this difficult time. Xoxo

Love,
Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 14.18 – What About Yesterday?
Hard Bonus: Incorporate the phrase “in the beginning”
Easy Bonus: Mention paisley