Another Goodbye

The husband of my wife’s favorite cousin passed away last night. The software I’m using to write this suggests I simply say he died. It feels a little abrupt. Passing away implies a continuation of a journey, which is something I’m certain he believed. So, I’m going to stick with that. To continue with that theme, I’m fairly certain he deserves his reward, and it is justified. First of all, he cooked like an angel, and while that in itself may not be biblical the idea that he fed everyone is. And secondly, he did for his family as you would expect a man to do for his family, everything.

Luckily, I got to see him on my recent trip to Tennessee this summer. It was a shock to see him bedridden, but his personality was intact. So that was good. We had a nice visit. We cried over the passing of my wife, talked about his failing health, and did our best to remember the good times. Now he’s gone. Since he was a big man with a larger than life personality, I’m unsure as to what will fill the void. Most likely, nothing. It’s just one of those tears in the fabric of space and time that will have to heal itself as the universe progresses on its merry way. Meanwhile, us humans will have to make do.

There’s been a lot of that recently, making do. I suppose its always been the case, but today’s demands have seemed fairly calamitous. Personally, I could do with a little less turmoil. I’d much rather be doing a daily piece about things such as the little fox that lives in the brambles at the corner of our property. It shows up nightly on my new game camera and even pauses for a portrait now and again. Of course, the little fox obviously works the night shift, lives in bushes, and probably has it harder than we imagine. But it feels ordinary and reliable and I am ready for ordinary.