When we are young, our lives stretch out before us (unless we've already tasted mortality through illness or accident). Time is endless.
When you are near 70 years old, the ticking of mortality gets louder each day.
Two deaths of people I knew in one week.
The first one was expected; in fact, he passed away the day I blogged about him. His loved ones and colleagues had time to prepare. That doesn't make it easier. It just makes it different than the second one.
The second one was a shock to us who knew her. She was someone working for my employer, well liked. My interactions with her were limited but she was always helpful. Her promotions were well deserved.
She was 20 years younger than me.
She worked a full day and then later that day, her life partner found her when he came home. She had moved on to wherever we go after death. Without warning. Without a chance to say goodbye.
She will be buried later today.
We all cope with death in different ways. For many of us, it's another wake up call to the ticking clock of mortality.
It's also a reminder that we need to look around us and experience the beauty around us, because time is not endless. So I turn to my flowers.
I'll also share a couple of photographs of my beloved flowers. Day lilies can be symbols of forgetting in some cultures - forgetting about pain and sorrow and trying to live in the moment.
As I blogged this in my back yard last night, a male Northern cardinal flies, landed and sat on a fence feet from me. His bright red crest was held high; his black mask a beautiful contrast against his red body. He chirped at me and then left.
I know the symbolism of the cardinal. Many consider them visitors from heaven, gifts from the deceased.
At this time, we don't know what took our co worker from us. We just know there's another void in our lives.
But there is also hope, and renewal.
May the family, friends, and close co workers of these two people find peace in the coming days and weeks.
Please, look around you today, and see the beauty.
...and when you are over 70 the ticking can be deafening.
ReplyDeleteI do love your daylilies and I've made myself a note that I need to add some to my garden this fall.
ReplyDeleteI have lost so many people throughout my life and it always reminds us that time is fleeting and we need to get everything we can out of it and appreciate those we love every day.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post, Alana! And you are so right. We need to appreciate the beauty around us every day. We've recently lost friends our age. Far too young. That mortality clock is ticking madly!
ReplyDeleteLove your flowers!
I am sorry for your losses
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear of your double loss, and love how you balance that with pictures of life and beauty and hope.
ReplyDeleteI hate the idea of "time to prepare," but agree it makes things easier, at least in getting legal issues figured out. Then again, illnesses can drag on so long, and just that idea is terrible to contemplate. Well, we just have to take what comes.
ReplyDeleteI love that last daylily. Any chance you happen to have that name? :)
Thank you for beautifully reminding us that life is short and to live fully each day that God gives us. Praying for God's comfort and strength as you journey through this season of mourning. Be blessed!
ReplyDeleteWow. Sudden deaths are so odd and disconcerting. And that's besides the pain of losing them. I'm sorry for your losses.
ReplyDeleteOh, Alana, I am sorry. I was having this conversation with my 92 year old bestie... mortality. We all face it. It's hard. / Carol C
ReplyDeleteI find it some what odd when walking though a grave yard and find a grave that someone died who quite a bit younger than me.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
I hope your pretty flowers bring you comfort as you go through time.
ReplyDeleteYes, time is in limited supple for me too. The cardinal came to visit be shortly after my husband died last December. That bird startles me every time. I see them in Arizona. As for you...well written. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad like me you also find comfort in your flowers and plants.
ReplyDeleteIt's incredible how the cardinal came to you as a sign, helping you cope with the grief.
I have had many such encounters when I was grieving my brother last year.
Sending you and the families of the deceased love and strength.