A Really Sad Reminder That Life Does Not Last Forever…
In the last 2 months I have lost 2 friends from high school. I wouldn’t say either were close friends now, but back in high school they were in my larger circle of friends. The latest friend to die was a girl named Tonya (name changed for privacy reasons) and her death has hit me fairly hard. When I was in high school my mom’s company did business with her mom and dad so she and I would talk here-n-there between classes and had kept in touch via Facebook.
She was a kind person who would often comment on my blog and/or FB posts with words of encouragement and always seemed interested in how I was doing as I dealt with the impacts of MS. She leaves behind a husband and 3 daughters ages 10, 13 and 17.
She was in relatively good health and went to bed one evening and died in her sleep. I cannot imagine how her family is feeling at this point and attempting to imagine their position leaves me feeling empty and incredibly sad.
I guess if you must die now that is about as peaceful a way to go as any other.
Tonya was my age and it is hard for me to accept I have gotten to the point in life when my friends are beginning to die. In a way it forces me to contemplate my own mortality. What have I done with my life? Am I wasting the time I have remaining? Am I spending enough time with my family? But more than these questions, I have been sad. And the sadness I feel is real and subtle. It isn’t a crying my eyes out sadness, but a foundational sadness, a tangible shaking in my soul, quiet type sadness. It is hard to explain, but it has disturbed my complacency.
This coming week Evelina and I will attend her funeral and I will see many friends from high school. Her family will bury her and life will begin to move again. Her husband will return to work eventually, her kids will return to school and life will continue on; minus a husband and a mom. The reality is their life will never be the same. October 31st will always have a different meaning. It will be sad in many ways. It will bring about happy memories. But life will never, ever be the same.
One day I hope someone has good things to say about me. It is difficult for me to imagine not being alive, but I understand there will come a day when all of my questions about the after-life will be answered.
I would prefer the after-life continue to be a mystery for many years to come.
Danny
Hi Danny, it’s really sad that you have to lose two friends.Our heart felt condolences .Let us do our best in the remaining part of our life.
Let us all of us wish and pray ‘death takes us peacefully..
Death-the last sleep ?
No-it’s the final awakening. ‘Walter Scot’
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The final awakening…I like that.
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That friend will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her.
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She definitely will. 🙂
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My heart goes out to you! I understand what you mean about foundational sadness. Yes, life will go on, but each of us can be more aware of how we each affect another. We Are All Connected. OM ❤️🦋🌀
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Thank you.
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I’ve lost several old friends that I know of, and probably classmates I haven’t kept track of. What you’re feeling is familiar, and my heart goes out accordingly.
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Thanks my friend.
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You’re very welcome.
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May the mystery remain so, for as long as you are content with it, and may your questions be peacefully answered when the time is right.
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I appreciate it. 🙂
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The death of a friend is something that can really bring us up short and cause us to reflect on how transient life really is. It is a reminder to enjoy each day as best we can and to forgive often not spending our time in regrets and resentments. And just btw I think people will speak well of you when, about 100 years from now, you shuffle off this mortal coil.
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Thank you Anne!
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At my age it is worse. The most sad is the young lives that disappear. At my age it’s a given. Sorry for the gpfamilies.
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Death is inevitable, but it brings me down a bit to think of her youngsters growing up without a mom.
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🦋 Sadness is all around us and I feel for you today.
A beautiful post shared so well.
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Thank you. 🙂
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🦋
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You have expressed what I too feel very often. I wonder if it is a factor of age. I too am at that point, and I feel sadness and often regret and I so often ask myself those vey same questions.
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So sorry. It is definitely a sad reminder, that life is short. Enjoy it and appreciate life and all it has to offer while you can. Tell your loved ones you love them everyday, for you may not get another chance tomorrow. Live life to the fullest. Don’t live with regrets.
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I have been thinking about her death and subsequently, my life, every day. It really puts everything in perspective.
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It sure does. Hang in there. It gets better.
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This stage of life is hard to deal with. Each new day is a potential encounter with mortality. For me the thought of a life with no legacy is worse than death. Ideally, when death comes, I will have accomplished my goal.
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And I just got a text that another old friend died last night! I guess these things happen in 3s.
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That’s kind of unusual, these days, I think.
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