Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Another farewell
It bothers me a little from a p.r. point of view that Just Muttering by Myself doesn't seem to fit into a pre-ordained category (political commentary, literary blog, cultural observation, etc.) but it concerns me more that I seem unwittingly to be gestating an 'obituary' category what with feeling compelled to note the many deaths around me of late. I'm not crazy about the idea but what can I do? Again, last Friday, the mother of a former employer of mine died, at 93, after a long, full and interesting life, gracing nearly everyone who met her. She was a lovely woman with personal style and character, and a whole bunch of distinctive and wonderful descendents. She taught art for nearly thirty years and cared passionately about her family (children and spouses, many grandchildren, several great-grandchildren), painting, literature, travel, Scotland, gardening.... but even 93 years is too few.

I feel loss. Partly because of all the others (see my comments on April 8th). Partly because my father's birthday was Sunday and he died in 2001. And partly because today someone sent me George Carlin's reflections that he wrote soon after his wife's death. He urged readers to spend time and attention on "those we love, while we can, before we can't." He wrote:

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. . . . Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. And always remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

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