Castle on a Cloud

My grandmother used to tell me of a reoccurring dream where she was floating happily up in the clouds observing the earth below. In that dream she would look down to see me terrified, running, afraid of something, but she knew not of what. She would call my name and in a frightened state I got to her somehow, the way you can in dreams, and was so overjoyed to see her that I fell on her hugging, laughing, and forgetting whatever was so scary. She found this dream very silly and amusing because it made us giggle, but also happy that it symbolized our comfort in one another. 

She passed away today as I was looking out of my airplane window at the bright sun drenched clouds you can only see from flying above them.   I had a strong feeling it was happening as I looked at them and I kept thinking of her dream. 

When I got to my hotel I had a strong urge to fall into the bed and not come out for quite some time, when before I even hit the pillow my eye caught the most amazing scene out the window. I was blown away by the spectacular cloud sunset that I swear hit me so hard and spoke so clearly...

Nana, your Baba is here.

Baba, I will love you till the day I die, and when that day comes I will meet you above the clouds.

My spirits have been lifted by a little girl who loves musical theater already as much as I do and sings of the "castle on a cloud" that Baba was dreaming of.  Her performance has made me come up with a variation on Baba's favorite quote.

"Life is short...so sing out Louise."