A Journey Home

Not all of our Journey’s through life are happy occasions, but they all are meaningful and full of purpose. This past week saw me returning to my Dad’s home, his place of birth to grieve with family the passing of a wonderful man. A man I have known since the age of 12. My cousin and her husband were married for 52 years. A remarkable number of years, but that is the way love is supposed to be. I will always remember Sarah and Gilbert as young newlyweds. Sarah’s lighthearted laughter and Gilbert’s slow, ready smile and twinkling eyes as they worked together putting a meal on the table for all of us. Funny, but I don’t know what triggers my memories or why certain memories remain engraved in my soul, but that one does. Home…Rising Fawn, Georgia. I close my eyes and say it again, “Rising Fawn.” Is there another place on this earth with a name so sweet. So lovely.
There is no other occasion that brings a family together as does a death. Weddings are joyous and fun. Full of laughter and joy. Full of superficial conversation, dancing, singing and we fool ourselves on that day into believing that life will never end.
A death brings us together on an entirely different level where we are vulnerable. Where sadness and tears and raw emotion are deeply felt exposing us to our friends and loved ones in ways we wished we could hide. And we are united by the unspoken knowledge that each of our lives is short and that some day it will be we who are mourned. But these death times also bring us closer together. Our conversations more heartfelt and meaningful. Our happiness at seeing extended family more deeply felt. The deep peace and joy of watching a 9 month old baby race crawling across the floor brings smiles and laughter like no other because we know inwardly just how fragile life is.
Yes, life is a journey. A journey that is good, bad, up and down and all all around. But I wish that you, like me have been Blessed with wonderful family to share it all.