The most beautiful gift

Coronado, California  December 23-26, 2009

This scene is real, although to me now it seems unreal. That Christmastime evening Gary and I stood together on the rocks looking out to the beach and ocean beyond it. I took this picture as the sun lit up the clouds with pinks, peaches and golds. It really is this beautiful and I remember it so well.  Gary and I got a four day stay over Christmas on Coronado Island at San Diego. I remember each of the days were warm. We walked on the beach and watched the people coming and going from the Hotel Del Coronado.  Each evening, we walked out to the sand again and sat and just took in the sunsets.  I wish everyone could do this at least one day of their life.

To have seen this with our own eyes reminds me how wonderful our gift of sight is. The only thing that Gary was able to donate after his death was one of his corneas.  I am told that it is now giving sight to someone in Southwestern North Dakota. If only with that gift of sight, Gary's memory of this beautiful place could have gone along with his cornea.

So maybe sight is not the most important gift we have. Instead, it is the meaning of the memories of the sights that we have seen that is the most beautiful gift of all.