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 1st. You can count on it.
