Sunday the rain took a break and on a small hill in the country of hills we had a small service to remember a fallen friend. It's difficult to sum up the celebration of a life we did not want taken from us. I also find that my cancer experience and likely the effects of chemotherapy renders me easily over whelmed and wrung out by emotional events.
The event seemed to bring out the best in each of us. Great donated facilities, organization, music, sound system, photos, stories, food, drink and spirits.
There were lots of friends from many different phases of Ed's life. Artie and band played old time guitar and fiddle music reminiscent of the Alabama hills music Ed loved from childhood.
There were many friends hugging each other. There were some thoughtful words and good stories told.
I appreciated my RFR neighbor's Ed stories (trash-collector ambush, black powder log splitter and bringing his new love to the 'hood). I refrained from hobbling up to tell the story of Ed laying in wait for the Dog Catcher so he could explain that his services were not needed because we were a self sufficient neighborhood where some visiting dogs (like his dog Rocky) were welcome and the dogs that were not were shot. It should be noted that no dogs were shot and Rocky was in doggie jail several times.
Ed the friend, adventurer, father, uncle, husband, son-in-law, neighbor, and network center.
His family seemed in good spirits but missing a husband and Dad will go on for years.
I don't believe that there is a God in Heaven that decided it was Ed's time and not mine. My God may welcome us back to dust and spirit, but I believe is mainly a creator and connector of spirits. I don't have this God stuff, death stuff or life stuff figured out and likely never will.
I've been to the Dung Beetle Bar and found there seems to be more to life- another dimension so to speak.There were many friends hugging each other. There were some thoughtful words and good stories told.
I appreciated my RFR neighbor's Ed stories (trash-collector ambush, black powder log splitter and bringing his new love to the 'hood). I refrained from hobbling up to tell the story of Ed laying in wait for the Dog Catcher so he could explain that his services were not needed because we were a self sufficient neighborhood where some visiting dogs (like his dog Rocky) were welcome and the dogs that were not were shot. It should be noted that no dogs were shot and Rocky was in doggie jail several times.
Ed the friend, adventurer, father, uncle, husband, son-in-law, neighbor, and network center.
His family seemed in good spirits but missing a husband and Dad will go on for years.
I don't believe that there is a God in Heaven that decided it was Ed's time and not mine. My God may welcome us back to dust and spirit, but I believe is mainly a creator and connector of spirits. I don't have this God stuff, death stuff or life stuff figured out and likely never will.
I have felt lifted by the spirits and positive prayers of friends and family. I don't understand it but I know it helps me and sustained me through some very dark hours. Maybe it manifests through the social network scientist are studying.
Nicholas A. Christakis of Harvard Medical School and James H. Fowler of the University of California, San Diego wrote 'Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives.'
Pretty funny writing for such deep thoughts!
ReplyDelete:-)
Thank you for sharing your life-writing.
It's really a joy to read.
There are some heavy topics, here, but your strength and spirit do shine through.
Martha