Departures and Knowing Where You Stand
Take the time to ensure others know where you stand.
Grandma Haller, nearly 104, passed away last month. She'd lived an immensely full life and I visited her often sometimes to pick her up to take up to a family event or dinner, sometimes to take her out to McDonalds where she loved to have a fish sandwich, fries, and vanilla shake, and sometimes just to visit at her place with my dogs Canon and Koa whom she loved. I was asked to be a pall bearer at her funeral. An immense honor, especially me having been in her life only the past 8 years. Grandma Haller always knew where I stood. She knew I loved her and supported her. She knew that I respected her and was grateful for her role in my life.
My friend Lauren moved rather suddenly to North Carolina last month. While I didn't always see Lauren regularly during the time we shared living in Colorado, she is a friend for life and dearly loved. A text here, a letter there, a lunch gathering, or a bike race, or a triathlon. Time with Lauren is always appreciated and valued whether in person or via Skype. No matter where Lauren or I live in the world, she knows she's loved and I know I'm loved. We know where we stand.
2003 shortly after Mara purchased her home and adopted her dog Canon when Sabine came out to help her paint and rewire all the outlets in the home among other things
My friend Sabine passed away today. Way too early. Nearly my age. Taken by ALS in less than a year from diagnosis to passing. I'm grateful she passed peacefully in her sleep and is now out of pain. Sabine and I have been friends for more than 15 years. We weren't the kind of friends who always spoke, or always visited, and yet we were still meaningful to each other in life. The last time I saw Sabine, I was up in Oregon only for 3 days for a wedding and was on an adventure to the Nike employee store. I had stopped for lunch and I was thinking about Sabine and how she worked at the German-American School of Portland. I was leaving the parking lot from lunch and there across the street was the German-American School. Seriously, no way! So, I had to try. Literally as I had grasped the door and was pulling it open to enter the school, Sabine and Olivia (her daughter) emerged. It was one of the most serendipitous moments in life. Big smiles, long hugs. A beautiful coming together of friends in the universe. I remember Sabine saying that she and I didn't always connect regularly, and every time we did, it was just like old times, like time hadn't passed. A knowing was present in our hearts. Over the past couple of years we were connected through Facebook celebrating each other and the joys in our lives virtually. We knew where we stood.
Life is sometimes expected. Sometimes unexpected. I wonder if those in your life who you choose to invest time in know where you stand? If someone departed your life would you feel confident that they knew where you stand? While departures are difficult no matter the circumstance, ensuring others know where you stand at least lightens the load.
I challenge you to make the story of your heart known to those you love.