This one is dedicated to my wonderful Aunt Connie, who sadly passed away today, way too young to leave this world. I really had a special place for Connie in my heart, and I’m not going to lie, this one’s a tough one.
I really attribute a lot of my traveling spirit to Connie. With her and my Aunt Peggy I took my first journey abroad to Europe, learned of all her many travels around this big ol’ world and I then knew, that I too would follow in her footsteps. She had the travel bug, and passed that on to me.
And that brings us to now, me in Chile, so far from home, not able to make it back to say goodbye and be with my family. I knew before I moved here that this was inevitable. Death is inevitable. I knew it all, but I’m not going to lie, when it happens, for lack of a better way to say it, it really sucks.
So I go back to a phlog I did not so long ago, which I wrote when two close to me were suffering from loss. Now I find myself in their position…
Life is for living
7/31/10
I expect that for the most part everyone is aware that a life can be taken from you at any moment, that the only time on earth of which we can be sure is the now and not a second more. However, I think we just time and again forget this ugly fact of life and take for granted how precious each breath truly is.
So you see, this phlog will not follow suit with the regular trekking phlog format, yet serve as a reflection and a reminder that the only thing certain in this life is death.
Though neither personally close to me, two lives have tragically and unexpectedly been taken from two of my closest this week. And what I’ve learned is whether they’re 5,000 miles away or right beside you, trying to be there for someone in pain and answer all those first questions of “why” and attempting to rationalize a thing lacking even the slightest possibility of true reason is tough. Fortunately and unfortunately, I have had some preparation for these type things.
So here’s my conclusion, and it’s quite simple: Time. Only time can heal and start to dull the pain that will always lie in your heart. And you may as well stop asking why or how these things could happen to such good people, because they do and it’s as simple as that. You still have your breath, and as hard as it is, it can’t be wasted asking answer-less questions. Remember the happy times, and let those take your mind off the details of their death.
To Mollie and the Bailey family, to Max and the Urrutía family, my heart aches for you and I pray that you receive the strength necessary to get past these moments. What I have learned is although you will never find true reason in tragic accidents, you can—in time—begin to find purpose in your pain, and realize that everything happens for a reason. It makes no sense now, so cry and remember your loved one, but remember that you still have been granted life, and life is for living.
Estimada Kendal, lo siento mucho, te envío un abrazo fraterno.
Kendal….thanks for your encouraging,sympathetic and honest words. I extend my condolences to you in the loss of your Aunt. Your observation is accurate….time. And even in that ever flowing of time those moments arrive that usually catch you off guard and there’s this welling up to the surface like fissures in a volcano, emotion that needs to find a place to vent. Sometimes its ok to cry but other times it has to be re-routed to a more appropriate time and place. But those moments are treasures because they confirm for you the continued presence of the grief that reflects the love for the one you’ve lost. So the pain of grief subsides with time, but the well of grief over the lost is like a pool of water stranded in the bank of your memories and that is a pool that will never dry up and will often inspire tears. Continue to live and love well. Yes, that’s the only way to continue. God bless.
Chris
Wow. There’s so much info here it hurts my head. Good job
I discovered your site website on the internet and appearance a number of your early posts. Keep the excellent operate. I just additional increase your Feed to my MSN News Reader. Looking for forward to reading much more of your stuff down the line!…
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read even more things about it!
That very first sold me about this viewpoint to deal with something that provides a crucial description respecting ?
I wanted to follow up and let you know how , a great deal I loved discovering this blog today. I’d consider it a good honor to work at my company and be able to make use of the tips discussed on your web page and also be a part of visitors’ remarks like this. Should a position associated with guest article writer become available at your end, you should let me know.
Dude.. I am not much into reading, but somehow I got to read numerous articles on your blog. Its amazing how interesting it is for me to have a look at you very often.
Can I recently say what relief to seek out someone that truly knows what theyre referring to on the web. You certainly understand how to bring a concern to light and earn it important. The diet need to read this and appreciate this side from the story. I cant think youre no more well-liked when you certainly contain the gift.
Would love to always get updated great blog ! .
I feel that is among the so much significant info for me. And i am happy studying your article. But should observation on some normal issues, The website taste is great, the articles is actually great . Excellent activity, cheers.