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On Love and Loss
On Mother's Day, our circle of friends was rocked by the death of a dear friend. It was an especially tragic accident, as L was a beautiful person, inside and out. She was great teacher, devoted wife and mother, and volunteered at an animal shelter. She and her husband C were known as one of the most devoted couples you could ever meet. He is, understandably, bereft without her. Hell, were all stunned and heartbroken to learn of her death, and have done our best to make sense of it all as we try to help C through this difficult time. I even chose to spend my birthday with C, as I couldn't justify going out to enjoy a birthday dinner while my friend was hurting so badly.
Yet from this tragedy, there is something beautiful in how we've all pulled together to lift not only C up, but each other, as well. L's memorial service was lovely, and so many people gathered to celebrate her life. It was a unique and informal service, held in the garden where she and C were married. None of us stepped up to speak about her, as though there were an unspoken agreement that it would be best not to give her family and coworkers cause to ask how we came to know her. Had I spoken, I'd simply have said that she is what I want to be when I grow up. But we laughed along with the funny anecdotes, and cried with the touching stories.
Another light to be found in this darkness is the creation of a literacy foundation in L's name, and an awareness for the causes that were near and dear to her heart. I can only hope that others will strive to continue the work she started, which is the best way to honor her.
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