Is there ever a time
\nwhen news of
\na sudden death of a friend
\ndoes not completely knock you
\nsideways<\/p>\n
while I look at the words before me
\nI read and re-read them
\nfive times
\nnone of it makes sense
\nhow
\ncan
\nthis
\nbe
\nwhat is this I am seeing
\nthese words
\na note from a sister
\neloquent and kind
\nyet none of it seems
\nclear<\/p>\n
letters and words jumble, and slide into each other
\na growing ache in my heart
\na rather sharp lump in my throat
\na gasping for breath
\nand suddenly I feel like Alice having just fallen through
\nthe rabbit hole<\/p>\n
this friend,
\nthis most beautiful friend
\nlovingly referred to by both of us
\nas my
\nsoul sister
\nand she was
\nin every sense of the word<\/p>\n
we have not known each other long
\nor maybe we had not known
\nof
\neach other long
\nbut the connection of our hearts
\nwas very real
\nwe recognized each other
\nhere
\nand like so many others
\nDianne
\nvery much blessed my life<\/p>\n
even as I write this now
\nI think to myself – and who am I
\nto speak of such a lovely soul
\nas she?<\/p>\n
we\u2019ve actually never even met
\nin person
\n(although I always knew, we would)
\nyet I count her as a true and very dear friend
\nand I struggle with the great
\nhollowness
\nof just what has been
\nlost<\/p>\n
I have no words
\nto offer comfort<\/p>\n
I have no
\nunderstanding…<\/p>\n
I have
\nno
\nwords<\/p>\n
instead
\nI have an ache
\nand
\na lump
\nan outpouring of tears
\nthat will not stop
\nand<\/p>\n
absolute stunned
\ndisbelief<\/p>\n
as I am sat here
\ngrappling
\na large beetle flies in and suddenly strikes me
\nright in the eye
\nand I stop<\/p>\n
to catch
\nmy
\nbreath<\/p>\n
and I listen to the breeze
\nand I look
\nat the sky<\/p>\n
and I see you rising<\/p>\n
you know, it is a common phrase
\nwe use in offering our sympathies
\n\u2018I am sorry for your loss\u2019
\nbut I don\u2019t want this today,<\/p>\n
or any day when I think of
\nher beautiful smile
\nand the inherent loving kindness
\nshe offered
\nwhen I think of Dianne
\nand her light
\nand her love<\/p>\n
and our
\nhearts<\/p>\n
I cannot possibly think of a
\nloss<\/p>\n
I will not
\nlose<\/p>\n
for my lifetime
\nand beyond
\nI will only ever think of
\nmy gain<\/p>\n
And oh how she blessed my life
\nand again,\u00a0 I will say to you Diana, my lovely friend
\nas I have said to you so many times before,<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are the loveliest of light, my kindred! You have blessed me immeasurably with your kind spirit and grace in the world. My gratitude for blessings will always include the wonderful gift that is You.\u201d<\/p>\n
To you my dear friend
\nand beautiful soul sister
\nas all that you are
\nbecomes
\nLight
\nwith my greatest
\nGratitude \u2665<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Please can I ask you, if you are reading this – \u00a0 in honour of this beautiful soul –\u00a0 Find a simple way to share some Love and some Light today, just take a moment\u00a0<\/em>to be\u00a0<\/em>a\u00a0<\/em>blessing to <\/em>someone.\u00a0<\/em>as I promise you, \u00a0you will never,\u00a0<\/em>never\u00a0<\/em>regret it.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0and, to you, \u00a0 may peace find you whole.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"