A Poolside Goodbye

26 May A Poolside Goodbye

Today, I stood barefoot next to a pool in the backyard of a beautiful family that gathered to celebrate the life of their loved one.  Despite the cause of death, all families are casualties of Covid-19 if they were not allowed to hold vigil during their loved ones last days or have a Celebration of life that felt whole rather than hollow.  This family needed to properly honour their make-everything-better Momma.

Darlene was present in the grass, the garden, in the wicker furniture and in the eyes of everyone that looked  at me with an apologetic desperation.  They needed to bring her home.  Not the cosmic home but to the postal code of treasured memories.  They needed her to be recognized for the piece of heaven she was while here on earth.  They didn’t know what to expect, and I won’t lie, each time I am invited to lead a Celebration of Life, it makes my knees shake in gratitude.   I’m not there to give a canned speech about being brave or the seven steps to perfect healing.  I am there to tell the story of an amazing human that has left holes in the hearts of every single tear stained face infront of me.   Life is a beautiful connection of moments that make a story.  Just think of your own life.  Your legacy is to have your story shared in a manner that lights up your loved ones senses just as if they were watching you on the big screen.  It is most people’s innate desire to be understood and to be tucked deeply inside the souls of those remaining so they can profit from the lessons bequeathed upon them.  We all are a story worthy of being shared.

So, as we stay safe in this Covid-19 chapter, we also change.  We are moving closer to a culture that reconnects through sensible kindness.

I am optimistically certain that will not go back to many of our old ways.  Some of the talk never had a walk, or at best, it had a shuffle.  What we know for sure is that life is finite and simple is now somehow spectacular.  We know how deeply important it is to embrace, in all ways, the people who mean the most to us.

Bottom line, we are all taking steps together.  And when we take our last steps, whether it be by the pool, in the barn, on the beach, in a winery or at a campground.  We shall celebrate that person in their style with our grace.

Sharing Stories …….. One Legacy At A Time.