There seems to be a shift in one’s perception when someone we love is suddenly taken from us without warning. Death, in any situation, is difficult, but the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one is a harsh shock to the senses that is not easily processed. Such is the experience of losing David a few weeks ago.
David was as much a brother to me as any biological sibling could be, perhaps more so because we chose him. He and my sister dated briefly, and during that time, some thirty years ago, he became a part of the fabric of our family. He and Dad, having both served in the military during the Viet Nam conflict, had a connection beyond their affinity for hunting and fishing. Having no father in the picture, David found that father figure in my Dad, was the son my parents didn’t have, and a brother to me.
When my Dad passed in 1996, we all mourned together as a family. When my Mom passed this past October, we also mourned as a family. And when David passed a few weeks ago, it felt as if the family, the legacy of all those years shared, was lost… and the sudden nature of his death has made it seem surreal… acceptance is a slow, measured process.
Remembering David is a simple task… he is always there… his smile, his easy laugh, and the kindness that is his legacy. I don’t know what lies beyond this plane of existence, but as I have experienced the passing of loved ones, I am certain there is something there. I have seen glimpses as that thin veil between life and death was lifted, and it is certainly a place of peace.
I imagine him there in the welcoming presence of my parents… home…
