Goodbye, for now

Today I said goodbye to my stepfather  Michael, who passed away unexpectedly this week. It's been an incredibly tough week. Exceptionally heavy, actually.  I  have spent my time back home  in a supporting role for my mother who lost her best friend.  I have been involved with many of the arrangements for his service, sifting through pictures and intently searching for the perfect music to play. ofyen, i found myself breaking down at  what I was actually doing. Surreal, disbelief, and grief are three words that immediately come to mind.  Michael was a lifelong friend and he will be greatly missed by many. He loved the Dodgers, the 49ers, and the Warriors. He was a smartass, a storyteller, and was shy around people. Realizing he is gone has been overwhelming at times at such an early stage. A good friend shared a poem on the subject that I have found great comfort in. We had it read during his service realizing that many others may find that same comfort. Goodbye, for now, Michael.

Gone From My Sight

by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,

spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts

for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck

of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,

hull and spar as she was when she left my side.

And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"

there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices

ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...