14th Feb 2008
10:45am
Dearest Jonas,
I feel almost completely at peace. 2008 was a better year than I could have hoped for. The one downside was that too many of the oldest generation left us.
Now, the first of the next generation has gone.
Yesterday we buried Francis Johnson. He was a cousin by marriage and a jovial addition to the DiCello family. Everyone knew him, or at least knew of him.
He died of a heart attack last week, four hours after a stress test told him his heart was doing fine, better than ever even.
I didn't really know him. Mum said it would be really nice if I went to his funeral and I agreed. So yesterday found me at a Forest Lawn Cemetery Chapel, listening to people speak about him. The effect he had on the family was too great for words. I cried, simply because a man who brought great joy to so many people has been lost. His eldest niece read a poem she'd written (there wasn't much age difference between the two). I cried hardest then.
One of his friends said, "Logically, we are born to die."
Logically, we are born to live. We live to die. Are we born to die?
Existentially, yes, I suppose that is true.
Realistically?
Francis has shown that life isn't measured by death. The memories of him are memories of life.
Logically, we are born to live.
Happy Valentine's Jonas.
All my love,
Saricella
11am
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I think that that is really the saddest part of funerals...everyone has something lovely to say about the deceased, and you truly realise the loss. I think we are born to live, but that death is an inescapable and very natural part of that living. Is it an end? Or simply a change?
*hugs*
<3Helena
Post a Comment