Songs for Milette – Speaking of heavenly realms, Alice Altiveros’ angelic soprano illustrates the spiritual concept that singing a hymn is praying twice. Asked to name two songs that she would sing for Milette, Alice offered "You Are Mine" and "Blest Are They,” both written by David Haas. Excerpts:

 

From You Are Mine (1991) – "Do not be afraid, I am with you/ I have called you each by name/ Come and follow me, I will bring you home/ I love you and you are mine."

 

From Blest Are They (1985) – "Blest are they who suffer hate/ all because of Me/ rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom/ shine for all to see..."

 

Dessert in a “bundle of gold” – My August 2009 visit to Los Angeles still evokes many warm feelings, more poignantly recalled today. Milette helped Lorna Cayco Cruz coordinate a full agenda of activities with area-based classmates (details some other time). Our day concluded at Lorna’s L.A. condo for refreshments. The pièce de résistance was a dessert that moved Milette to pronounce our hostess, who is a certified sous chef, “the Julia Child of the class.” 

 

I have renamed the dish Brie en Croute d’Or for its golden good looks and delectability. There is a recipe and complete directions for Brie en Croute (Brie in a pastry crust) on the web. Lorna’s version is a gleaming triumph. At the heart of it is an 8-oz. wheel of Brie that is spread evenly with 1/3 cup apricot jam and topped with 1/3 cup macadamia nuts, sautéed golden brown in butter. The Brie nestles within a thawed sheet of puff pastry that is tied into a bundle and baked for 30 minutes. Brie en Croute d’Or has zero calories in Fantasy Land, and with Milette that afternoon, the party happily suspended a culinary moment of truth.

 

Short program: a spring bouquet of haiku – After an unusually rude winter, Gely de Leon Khanna and I turned with relief to our springtime paean to creation, expressed in haiku. This time, we dedicated our efforts to Milette’s birthday page. I asked Gely to stroll by her private lake, survey her garden, and write several haiku. And with cherry trees in bloom along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, I requested that she include cherry blossoms. In no time, Gely e-mailed a basketful of floral creations, inviting me to “please feel free to edit and riff along” with her. And so with only light editing, I brushed the dogwoods, patted the lilies, and waved at the cherry blossoms. She replied, “Thanks for the reworking, so if you please, make it a bouquet from the two of us.” We present this haiku trio for Milette’s spring bouquet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor’s note: For our haiku, Gely and I used the traditional rules of this delightful, centuries-old Japanese poetic form – a 17-syllable verse rendered in 5-7-5 syllable phrases, about a fragment of time involving nature. Although modern haiku do not strictly follow the Japanese form, we often prefer the classic formula, both for the discipline and continuity from the early 20th century, when haiku written in English began to emerge.

 

A promise kept: gift for a friend in perpetuity – Milette’s e-mails in the last years of her life grew in length and came at longer intervals, as though she were snatching time between her Norbertine formation studies. Her reflections touched on similar themes, and they are part of the backstory that informs my gift to her as she has preceded me into eternity.

 

I freely shared my writings with Milette – but was astonished at her impatience when I told her of my plans to retire from my communications career. “This so-called retirement,” she huffed in an impassioned letter, “fervently hoping” that I would use my time well and write “for public reading.” She knew, though, that I was in a self-imposed Quiet Phase, and she tempered subsequent messages. She conceded that, in time, “the Spirit will move you – you’ll know when.” I promised that I would let her know when the time was right.

 

The concept of a memorial web site dedicated to Milette would have been both alien and frightening to us. Looking back, our discussions were pointing directly to what will come after this site is archived at year’s end. As conveyed in the letter of March 23, 2015, which launched www.goldendays.us, the memorial will be repurposed but continue to be dedicated to her. Under the same address, the space will feature commentary on a host of general-interest subjects, including but not confined to faith, and will become available “for public reading,” as Milette urged. It will eschew newsmagazine-type content more appropriate for social media. Archiving time in December will bring me to a bend in the road and conclude my regular mailings to the class as I take goldendays.us to greater cyberspace. But – it’s early days yet!

 

Meantime – 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MILETTE, WITH OUR LOVE