Life and Death

The other day we found out that a friend of a friend died in the Middle East during his tour of duty. It was still a shock, no matter that he was in a war zone. The widow was angry and took it out on a friend saying it was their fault. No one held a gun to his head and told him to take the oath to defend the country against all enemies’ foreign or domestic. He took that of his own free will, but she was just upset and felt the need to blame someone. Part of the process, later she will get to acceptance.

The same day I was taking time to start up a new friendship. We took some time and met for coffee and talked of life. She is ready to start a new part in her life and we talked of that and so many other things.

That’s the thing; death is hard on the living. We have to deal with the pain and we have to go through the feelings of loss and denial, anger the whole gambit. We have to attended the funerals and cry with the families and bring by jell-o molds. Always the jell-o molds show up.

One of the stress reliefs in my life is my dogs. I can cuddle up with them and they help. Just petting them helps me feel better. Looking into their eyes and it helps. They don’t know why we are sad, but they just cuddle up and help us feel better. The best thing we did when our older dog Angus died, was to get a new puppy. Middy, she had no idea what had happened and she helped to cheer us all up. Even the other dog, Gwennie was entertained by her; I think it is the best way to heal from another dog dying. Sure the one that died is mourned and there will be another one just like it, but the new one will help us to remember, life goes on and there is still plenty to be happy and grateful for.

There is nothing like a good friend or a new friend to talk to. We can’t make it on our own all the time. We need friends and loved ones to help us get through it. Even if we can’t find the right words to say, just being there and holding our friend’s hand, or hugging them can be the best thing we can do for them. The rest will just take time; it’s all part of life and death. OXOX