One day last October, my friend and I were out walking. It was kinda misty but we like walking in the rain or almost rain.
As we were passing Riverside Cemetary, we noticed a graveside service had just ended. We watched as most of those gathered had moved back to their cars, all but one. There was something moving about him, and we stopped to watch.
An upper middle-aged man but obviously very fit and also very obviously in the midst of almost TANGIBLE grief, was standing next to a casket...
mounted above the grave.
I could hear something and I took Greg's hand and we moved up so as not to disrupt, but to listen.
Odd maybe, but I was so taken by this tableau. This BEAUTIFUL casket, worth a fortune was my guess and meant to forever hold the remains of someone TRULY LOVED, and the GRIEF. GOD THE GRIEF.
I heard and felt it, and by the time two young men came up to him, I was in tears. So was Greg. I will never forget it. It felt a bit puckish being there like that, but I will always be glad we were. TO SEE AND HEAR THE LOVE OF OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF YEARS BEING PLAYED OUT IN FRONT OF US...is something I will always remember and cherish.
I just hope if I go first, that Greg will feel the same as this man did. I know I will for him if the other way around.
We stood there, and then the two younger men kind of put their hands on the older man's shoulders and propelled him back toward the cars.
Imagine my surprise and shock and sadness when I recognized all of them.
I went all through school with Jake Jr., the older son. I knew the entire family, and practically lived at their house at times.
We went away to school and I kinda lost track...and only moved back here a couple months ago. I guess that is why I hadn't heard of Jake Senior's illness and now his passing.
What a shame. He was a REALLY KEWL dude. They both were, are. Whatever.
I quietly tugged on Greg's arm and nodded. He nodded back and together we moved up to them and expressed our condolences. Greg is from California originally and so didn't know them, but certainly knew OF them and from what he knew, I could tell he felt the sadness too.
But I am still struck by the beauty and the poignance, and the intensity of the grief felt by Dusty. God I felt so helpless, standing there looking at him, now looking so much older (and yet really not so much) and SO torn apart by grief.
So...let me share with you what I heard (and recorded). I think it will move you too...and remember, death will come to all of us, but will anyone notice when we go?
This was obviously a HUGE funeral so a LOT noticed when Jake passed...and I know for sure they will when Dusty goes. They were damn near institutions around here, and very loved...VERY loved.
Adored really.
They blazed trails in this small city, and made it SO much easier for those of us who followed in their footsteps. I shall always be grateful.
P.S. Jake Sr was not all that old and neither is Dusty. Cancer came and extracted him from our midst in his early fifties, and now? Dusty will have to go on without him. I know it will never be the same, they were SO MUCH in love.
HERE IS:
"THE LAST GOODBYE"
As we were passing Riverside Cemetary, we noticed a graveside service had just ended. We watched as most of those gathered had moved back to their cars, all but one. There was something moving about him, and we stopped to watch.
An upper middle-aged man but obviously very fit and also very obviously in the midst of almost TANGIBLE grief, was standing next to a casket...
mounted above the grave.
I could hear something and I took Greg's hand and we moved up so as not to disrupt, but to listen.
Odd maybe, but I was so taken by this tableau. This BEAUTIFUL casket, worth a fortune was my guess and meant to forever hold the remains of someone TRULY LOVED, and the GRIEF. GOD THE GRIEF.
I heard and felt it, and by the time two young men came up to him, I was in tears. So was Greg. I will never forget it. It felt a bit puckish being there like that, but I will always be glad we were. TO SEE AND HEAR THE LOVE OF OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF YEARS BEING PLAYED OUT IN FRONT OF US...is something I will always remember and cherish.
I just hope if I go first, that Greg will feel the same as this man did. I know I will for him if the other way around.
We stood there, and then the two younger men kind of put their hands on the older man's shoulders and propelled him back toward the cars.
Imagine my surprise and shock and sadness when I recognized all of them.
I went all through school with Jake Jr., the older son. I knew the entire family, and practically lived at their house at times.
We went away to school and I kinda lost track...and only moved back here a couple months ago. I guess that is why I hadn't heard of Jake Senior's illness and now his passing.
What a shame. He was a REALLY KEWL dude. They both were, are. Whatever.
I quietly tugged on Greg's arm and nodded. He nodded back and together we moved up to them and expressed our condolences. Greg is from California originally and so didn't know them, but certainly knew OF them and from what he knew, I could tell he felt the sadness too.
But I am still struck by the beauty and the poignance, and the intensity of the grief felt by Dusty. God I felt so helpless, standing there looking at him, now looking so much older (and yet really not so much) and SO torn apart by grief.
So...let me share with you what I heard (and recorded). I think it will move you too...and remember, death will come to all of us, but will anyone notice when we go?
This was obviously a HUGE funeral so a LOT noticed when Jake passed...and I know for sure they will when Dusty goes. They were damn near institutions around here, and very loved...VERY loved.
Adored really.
They blazed trails in this small city, and made it SO much easier for those of us who followed in their footsteps. I shall always be grateful.
P.S. Jake Sr was not all that old and neither is Dusty. Cancer came and extracted him from our midst in his early fifties, and now? Dusty will have to go on without him. I know it will never be the same, they were SO MUCH in love.
HERE IS:
"THE LAST GOODBYE"
No comments:
Post a Comment