In Search of the Very
Just searching for the good stuff .
Broken Road
At the temple there is a poem called “Loss” carved into the stone. It has three words, but the poet has scratched them out. You cannot read loss, only feel it.
–Arthur Golden
I’m grinding my teeth again and sleep is elusive. I fumbled around last night looking for my nightguard. It wasn’t where it usually is. Then I realized I had no water either. Not even five pillows could cradle my bones in comfort. Everything was off. Nothing was right.
Yesterday I learned that another friend had died. She passed yesterday, alone at home.
Alone.
I am still reeling.
I sit down with my pen and write furiously, thinking it will serve to empty my twitching brain and be salve to my breaking heart. It helps, but there are natural limits to things. Only so much is allowed into the crowded spaces. And only so much can get out …
Death comes marching along without regard for clocks or calendars. It jettisons the spirits of those who have have reached the end of their journey. It is abrupt. It is wrenching.
I’m upset because we just spoke Wednesday night. I’m upset because we had a workshop of sorts we planned to co-host in two short weeks. I’m upset because death is intrusive and alarming and for all the “things” and “stuff” in my posession, there is no tool to fix this. No glue to hold together the broken parts. No map to discover exactly where the hurt lies.
I can’t help feeling like I missed something. I wonder if I had been less concerned with the things that I have no control over in my own life if I might have been more available. I wonder now if I was listening hard enough with my heart.
I feel selfish. I feel consumed by the wrong things. Like being pissed about a change of weather while driving and completely ignoring the fact that the road beneath has crumbled. The way forward is jarring and uneven and I’m still blaming it all on the rain.
I had help finding sleep last night in the form of a tiny dose of benadryl. I had a hard sleep but woke with a dozen dreams coursing through my veins.
Jen, I’ll miss you. Your creativity and wicked sense of humor were no match for this broken world. There will be a void that goes unfilled.
Somewhere there is a chair, in a circle, with your name on it. It will rest empty forever. It might have saved you to occupy that space. Or maybe God always had a different plan.
This heartbreak adds to the heaviness of having lost another piece of my heart last week. So. Much. Loss. November is full of gratitude and celebration, sadness and unfathomable heartache.
They say you can’t be sad and grateful in the same moment but I’m here to tell you that you can. Recently I read the words of a friend describing gratitude and grief. They share the same path. I feel that now. The road is wide and holds us all. Broken, questioning, joyful and hopeful alike.
My prayer now will be that I am mindful of the condition of the road and less mindful of the current weather.
All I can do right now is be still. Sit and allow myself to be healed by the empty quiet.
Rest in peace, Jen. Your struggle here has ended and the veil has lifted. I hope it’s beautiful where you are ♡
11 Comments on “Broken Road”
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Hugs to you, Bonnie and so sorry and sad for your loss of your friend.
Thanks Karri ♡ Feeling pretty overwhelmed this November.
Sometimes… most times… there are no answers… only too many unanswerable questions, and an unfillable void. Husband what and who you can. Your loss … all keen loss… is palpable. I hold your wounded heart, knowing your pain, yet I know the sun comes in the morning, and we must rise…*
There is something so comforting in the idea of my wounded heart being held. Thanks for the forever love and the nod tonight to grace. *
Always…*
Some day, we will understand why. Today is not that day.
Giving you a hug from afar and lighting candles to honor your dear friends. Much love
Today is not that day. Thanks for the love and reflection. I can feel it, you know … a thousand miles away ♡
This is so beautifully written. Again. I felt your sadness keenly. And I’m sorry, for yet another loss.
Thank you, G. I feel a little unsteady. Like navigating without a map or compass but putting one foot in front of the other and trusting the way forward.
Oh Bonnie. You express my muddled feelings so well. I am glad I introduced you to each other, but sad it caused pain. Signs, signs, everywhere signs. But I didn’t know how to see them. Or I only saw a corner and could see the whole. Or we were presented with doctored images. Dunno. Thank you for being you.
As we talked about last night, this was Jen’s journey. Every ounce of my being wishes she had reached out and wishes I had seen the signs that she was faltering. I”ll miss her. We shared a love of the creative and I’ll never forget her.