Say it Now

I wasn’t going to write about my Uncle Ed’s passing. Sounded trite and a tad too emotional. But, serendipitous events—Karmatic coincidences—often direct my path, and today’s email (PLEASE see below) was a lightning rod of clear compulsion to share my experience.

We had last rites for Uncle Ed yesterday in the mountain Hamlet of Hazard, his old Kentucky home. On a splendidly gorgeous day, the verdant green mountains in vivid contrast to crystal blue skies, the long lines of townspeople paying their last respects was a testament to the great spirit that fueled his now still body.

The mountains have always held a heavenly aura for me, so they are a most fitting stage for a funeral. This was especially apparent at his final resting place on the top of the mountain, his son-in-law’s mausoleum overlooking the cascading crests of mountain upon mountain, what this fall will become a true Purple Mountain Majesty.

I was lucky. Since Christmas we knew Uncle Ed was going to die within 6 months. Nothing more to be done with the cancer, he was sent home to spend his remaining days with family and friends.

Thus, I got to visit him in April. And it was great! Though sick and weak, he was on fire—remembering this event, laughing about that, lecturing about another. Family, politics, history and religion, with my cousin, Eddie, and Aunt Mary--a real saint of a woman (I’d say that about both my parents’ sisters)--we had a rousing time.

The month before I had sent a birthday card with a narrative of my memories of Uncle Ed, and what he meant to me. He always remembered my birthday, for I was born the very day his father died.

I tell you this for as I was witnessing the celebration of Uncle Ed’s life, even though tearful for many family and friends, there was a definite sense of “when a person leaves this life, THIS is the way it should be.” Time to plan, time to show and receive the love, the care, that’s ever present, but too often hidden beneath perceived urgencies.

Just the day before a tragic motorcycle accident killed a young teen. They said a thousand mourned together in that same chapel, yet with a much different heart. Doubtless how many yearned to once more hug that child, to share a kindly word, a bad joke, something—anything—to show the connectedness they had assumed would last a lifetime.

So it is with this thought that, while I still have breath, I tell you that I care about you and am saying a prayer for you. Those who I know I will specifically note, but those fellow travelers who may read this on my blogsite, are no less included.

I hope to tell you what you each mean to me in person, but until then…thank you for being a part of my life.

Yours, Richard aka the “dog”, “doghair”, “tricky dicky” (YUK!), Peacecow

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


THIS IS THE EXCERPT FROM A “MOUNTAINWINGS” EMAIL I received today. A DOUBLE COINCIDENCE because I usually just delete them!!

If you have something nice to say to someone, say it.Say it now. Say it while both of you are on this earth.You never know what effect your kind words will have, and youmay not get a chance to have your words spoken once you leave.We all need encouragement, all of us.Words that you speak and actions that you perform often live onlong after you have left this earth.