One of our long time co-workers passed away a week ago. Pearl had worked with us for years and I had very little contact with her over the last five or six years as she worked day shift. We’ve lost a few since Bellagio opened and even though we all understand and know death, it never feels good to me – even if they’ve been ill for quite some time, I find it difficult to say it’s a blessing. Perhaps it is, but that’s all from individual perspective.
I find myself feeling rather emotionally down tonight. My youngest son, Darian, called me this afternoon. He had attended a wake and viewing of a friend that he’d lost touch with over the last few years. Darian completely broke down on the phone and we talked for quite a long time about life, how we let small things keep us from those that we should be close to, and life’s general painful exposure to our emotions. Of course I broke down too.
The older I get, the more I understand death. But that doesn’t mean I like it.
Perhaps our longest journey is life. May we all be at peace with ourselves on the dayour journey is over.
Life may be a long journey; but, it somehow always seems incomplete. The loss of friends and family drive that home. In our youth it all seems ahead and limitless. But, as your son found out, that is hardly a given.
I think the loss of parents really drives home the incomplete aspect. We never lose our childhood view of that stable constant in our lives. And then it is gone.
I can choose to play, or fold, or raise. I have control. But, that’s a transient moment. I guess they all are.