Post Funeral

Thinking about it and there is no hiding from the truth. The real tragedy of my grandfather's long life was that after 93 years, he still didn't live long enough. He didn't see my divorced parents hug each other, sincerely, after twenty years, he didn't see all his grandchildren together since that Thanksgiving six years ago and he missed a family reunion attended by many of his nieces and nephews, called the funeral. He didn't live long enough.

I do envy the cohesive families that are all inclusive and reunite often. There haven't been many that I have known. The fact is, there is always a relative who is distant, there is distance there is so much distance for all the reasons there is distance. While we all do know what is really important, it doesn't happen just because you want it to or they want it to. But I did keep thinking, through the funeral and the days that followed how my grandfather would have liked to have been a part of the living world as it unfolded after his death. Then I thought of lonely friends who I have met over the years. How they were with me on days that are usually spent with family. Those times I was not with my own family. But it can't always be helped. We are flawed creatures in a flawed world operating under flawed circumstances.

All we can do in our lives is make the connections as they appear, help others, be understanding and forgive. Start over every chance we get.