Saturday, February 18, 2006
Saturday Feb. 18, 2006 - Year 3, Day 334 - it won’t be long now
-15C[wind chill –22C]/5F, calm & warmer today – quiet walk in woods absent any encounters with dogs or their walk-behind folk as Gusta enjoyed a longer work-out than she’s had all week
when we have a worn out sweater, a chipped glass or a gadget that no longer works, we discard them - usually I buy a new one or go to extremes & costs to fix them [see car note below] but when someone close to us is ready for the next step in life called death, well beyond their ‘best before date’, we [meaning most of us] experience that event & moment of loss as a cathartic event, even though the loss has been obvious for some time, that person having lost their ability to function, the issues focused less on recovery from something where recovery is not possible, time spent on good-bye & remembering & wailing too . . like any event of emotion & drama the anticipation can be so easy if we set reality aside, or so difficult if we face it straight on
it won’t be long now
preparation, planning & expectations prepare one – so we think – for that moment when it will come, but nothing really does; when it comes it comes; when it comes it can be a freight train or a lightning bolt or a soft pillow or a warm breeze or a flood of memories or tears; it can stun, it can hurt but mostly it is ALL of these things & a wave of emotions & family politics colliding all at once, careening at high speed around a new unknown corner – yet for those who stand outside that circle, it is just another day, another obit. in the paper, another statistic in the drama of life & death
it won’t be long now
I am struck at times like this by how little one can do; we can all do a big hug or an e-hug or a set of words intended to bring comfort knowing that whatever we say or do might have a 50/50 chance of being the right thing to do so we step back & do less, do little or do nothing
a good friend’s mother is near death - it’s not my story to tell – so I won’t
whether we remind someone of something, touch a chord or nothing at all, the thing that matters most is a connection of some sort - a call, a visit, a touch, a demonstration of support & understanding mixed with an ample amount of listening
it won’t be long now
car problem solved with a simple recipe; add $ 5K for a new engine & things should be fine by Tuesday
it won’t be long now
breakfast with JJ yesterday was a great catch up before he took off - he & Irene will be holidaying in the Florida Keys starting today
it won’t be long now
much work awaits, but without the weekday pressure – it seems like so much but then 3 days & 3 evenings let me spread it out & fit in rest, exercise & reading . .
it won’t be long now
LR is due to deliver that baby any day now . . waiting for news . .
it won’t be long now
Mark
when we have a worn out sweater, a chipped glass or a gadget that no longer works, we discard them - usually I buy a new one or go to extremes & costs to fix them [see car note below] but when someone close to us is ready for the next step in life called death, well beyond their ‘best before date’, we [meaning most of us] experience that event & moment of loss as a cathartic event, even though the loss has been obvious for some time, that person having lost their ability to function, the issues focused less on recovery from something where recovery is not possible, time spent on good-bye & remembering & wailing too . . like any event of emotion & drama the anticipation can be so easy if we set reality aside, or so difficult if we face it straight on
it won’t be long now
preparation, planning & expectations prepare one – so we think – for that moment when it will come, but nothing really does; when it comes it comes; when it comes it can be a freight train or a lightning bolt or a soft pillow or a warm breeze or a flood of memories or tears; it can stun, it can hurt but mostly it is ALL of these things & a wave of emotions & family politics colliding all at once, careening at high speed around a new unknown corner – yet for those who stand outside that circle, it is just another day, another obit. in the paper, another statistic in the drama of life & death
it won’t be long now
I am struck at times like this by how little one can do; we can all do a big hug or an e-hug or a set of words intended to bring comfort knowing that whatever we say or do might have a 50/50 chance of being the right thing to do so we step back & do less, do little or do nothing
a good friend’s mother is near death - it’s not my story to tell – so I won’t
whether we remind someone of something, touch a chord or nothing at all, the thing that matters most is a connection of some sort - a call, a visit, a touch, a demonstration of support & understanding mixed with an ample amount of listening
it won’t be long now
car problem solved with a simple recipe; add $ 5K for a new engine & things should be fine by Tuesday
it won’t be long now
breakfast with JJ yesterday was a great catch up before he took off - he & Irene will be holidaying in the Florida Keys starting today
it won’t be long now
much work awaits, but without the weekday pressure – it seems like so much but then 3 days & 3 evenings let me spread it out & fit in rest, exercise & reading . .
it won’t be long now
LR is due to deliver that baby any day now . . waiting for news . .
it won’t be long now
Mark
341,776
