I Went to My Own Funeral Last Night

This isn’t a riddle. I’m fully alive and last night I had the overwhelming pleasure of being around some of the dearest people I’ve met in the past nine years. I sat quietly as they stood and shared into the microphone some of the most loving things anyone has ever said about me.

See, I’m leaving. Moving van set to arrive soon. I heard many of these rock star women say how much they’ll miss me. I wish I had a profound way to communicate, a larger-than-word way, more-tender-than-hug way to speak into these women that they’ve changed my life. They helped me to believe in myself as a writer, a friend, and a loving human being. They embraced me at my quirkiest and hung on through the years.

I’m scared as I’m about to embark on a new adventure with my family. I’m also excited.

And I can’t think of a better crowd to sort through this tumble of feelings with than the one I was graced by last night.

Goodbyes are hard. But they also remind us of what we value and all that has rooted deeply inside.

So now you know, I wasn’t actually at my funeral. But I experienced a rare and unparalleled glimpse of the sort of impact I’ve had on others for the past decade.

Like I said, they’ve changed me.

“There is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort.” ― Charlotte Brontë

“We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.” ― Ray Bradbury

*Will be taking a brief blogging hiatus due to big life changes. Will return May 1^st. You can count on it.