The blessing of community

By Pamela Greenlaw Cemelli

Throughout the year, there are many festivals, rituals and national holidays that lend themselves to remembering our blessings. Thanksgiving is here; for some, this means warm gatherings of friends and family. For others, this is a time of loneliness. No matter how we observe Thanksgiving and with whom, we are surrounded by the spirit of thankfulness. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems that in all the preparations and details, we become overwhelmed rather than “thankful.” So, this is my opportunity to stop, breathe, and take this moment to express my thanks.

I have been a member of the Narrowsburg community for a little over one year. I have received so much support and kindness from literally everyone I have met. As the year passed, I felt stronger on my feet than I have for some time. It was that strength that kept me going when my son Logan became ill. Two months of doctor visits with no diagnosis, two months of worrying, two months of struggling to work and care for my children. As fate would have it, Logan, who was four-and-a-half years old, woke up on July 27 very pale, with a fast heart rate and lethargic. I knew the night before that this would be the day someone would give me an answer as to why my son was having intermittent fevers. Unfortunately, I have still not received a full answer explaining why we lost our little boy Logan on July 28, 2009 at 2:10 in the morning.

The shock of being at my son’s bedside at Westchester Memorial Children’s Hospital through the moment of his last breath shielded me for the hard months that followed. It is during these months that an affirmation of community here in Narrowsburg and beyond came through and touched my heart deeply. Friends, neighbors, co-workers and people who I hadn’t really met yet were carrying me through the hardest experience I will ever have.

So now, I know for certain that I can handle just about anything life puts before me. And I am certain, as well, that I live in one of the sweetest, kindest towns in our country. To all of you who touched my children’s hearts, and mine with a kind word, a gift, a warm glance, a prayer or a simple game of tag, I am very thankful. To all my children, Lauren, Kaylan, Ember, Alder and Logan, the brightest moments of my life are as your mother. I’m looking forward to making many more memories in this little town.

(Pamela Greenlaw Cemelli is a resident of Narrowsburg, NY.)