Angels

There seems to be a rash of sudden passings of those loved by those I love lately. When we got back from our trip I found out about some, and others I just found out tonight. Only one of them was someone I had actually met. Its funny though that the passing of someone who is loved by someone you love can break you. Make you cry. Hard.

There needs to be something said about these people because each of them effected in a beautiful way the people who I love. And sometimes, it doesn't hurt to look at the humanity of it. To take each person's life (or that which I know of it) and share its beauty with the world..so that we can remember, again, how precious our lives, our loves and our families are.

The truth is that when people pass, they are remembered in many ways by those who loved them...but what you don't realize is that the passing of someone whom you don't know well can stun and change you too - if only for the way their presence and passing changed someone you love. Like the little one who never met the mother who was planning for him or her only a couple of weeks into her pregnancy. The little one who changed the life of my friend forever..the little one who none of us will never meet. Like the father figure who was so proud of his "adopted" daughter that he boasted of her proudly as if she were his own - and took care of her mother with love. The man who was strong and sensitive, and I met him on several occasions and can attest to how funny he was. I also remember him as generous in spirit and warmth..and the passing of a man like that from this world is to be noted with sadness. Like the brother in law who passed away at his desk - alone. But who during his life, which had its many challenges offered his own support and love for the dreams of his sister in law. And the uncle of another friend, who well into his years declined treatment for a serious illness and went home to pass, surrounded by family. But before passing, sat up, winked at his wife of 70 years and closed his eyes in peace. A final message of love to last...

I didn't really believe when my Dad passed when people told me that he would never really leave. I couldn't imagine a world without him, let alone a world without him, that still held him. Miraculously, the world did have a place for him. My heart did still hold him and I still hear him. I always miss him.

As those I love will always miss the people in there lives. But they too, will eventually find out what I didn't believe, but eventually I grew to accept and love and believe: Love of all of these people lasts.

Everyday is Graduation

One of the cool things about this time of year is that it is graduation time..and occasionally, there is a graduation speech given that takes you by the wrist and twists it until you too remember the awesomeness of having your whole life in front of you...and then you remember: "WAIT - I DO have my whole life in front of me..I'm not done living, I'm certainly not done dreaming and no one says I can't do what I want to do." Its graduation time...for everyone. Everyday is graduation time. Everyday is the day you change your life, because everything you do - every thought you have - every breath you breath is one in which you take a step towards your own personal greatness, however you define it, however you dream it.

My Mom's friend, Annie, is a teacher at a school in VA for disabled children. I can only imagine how awe inspired she is regularly, she must always be reminded of the awesomeness of our own lives. She sent us the graduation speech from this year. It happens to be Ben Affleck giving the speech, but its really what he is saying, not who is saying it that grabs you by the wrist and twists it..until you remember the awesomeness....

Enjoy it - its short and beautiful.

Falls Church Graduation Speech 2007