Today I was a part of two different life experiences. A funeral and a wedding.
The day started out with a funeral. My friend Drake's father passed away from a horrible mind-boggling disease called Dementia. This disease, (one that my grandfather has as well) pulls away the logic of one's life from their mind. They're in a constant state of reversal, and playing catch up; with people telling them who they are. It has to be terrifying to be surrounded by strangers, but in fact, they are truly your family. All are just merely characters in this life they don't recognize. Drake gracefully shared about his father, in the best way he could. Honest, blunt, and lovingly. As I listened to Drake speak, I was moved at the moments we share with the people we love. The things which we admire about people, the things we'd like to forget, and the things we can't help but remember. I watched the slide show and was reminded to capture more memories with the people I love. I couldn't help but think what comfort a simple photograph could supply in your time of need. As I left wiping the tears from my cheeks, I had to prepare myself for another of life's moments. A wedding.
As I was sitting there at the wedding of my friends Malori and Charles, I observed the joy and celebration all the people had waited to carry out. People were crying of joy, and toasted to the happy new couple. I looked at the way they looked at each other, lovingly, waiting for their futures to unfold. A celebration of love and unity. People danced, ate and were all hopeful for romance and happily ever afters. I smiled, and was glad I myself was surrounded my by closest friends and family.
And then I thought how funny life is. That in one day I had experienced such contrasts. I guess you can say my heart is very tired. It was stretched, pulled from one direction to the other, from sadness for a friend, to joyful laughter with the next. Life is funny that way.
I want to live and love with a full and tired heart. Life should be full of different, and beautiful experiences. Death, although frightening when you truly sit down and think about it, is also freeing and quite peaceful. Weddings, can be exhausting, and your feet tend to hurt from the shoes we force ourselves to wear. But the way you laugh at the silly man who can't dance, makes up for it all.
You see, I want to take the good with the bad. Isn't that what love is? Isn't that what we should be fighting for? I'm sure Drake didn't plan on losing his dad at such a young age, but he sat by him, read to him, and fought for a man who lost his voice. I want someone to fight for me, when I've lost my voice. My dear friends had spoken vows to one another, and I wanted to end this post with the vows of love, that so many say to each other. I was at a funeral today, yes, but I was reminded of the fight we choose to battle for love. I was reminded of life's contrasts, and was even more in awe of such promises. Thank you to my dear friends, for showing me, that life, although full of difficult and strange circumstances, can be full of promise and life. I dedicate this blog to you...
I, (name), take you (name), to be my wedded (wife/husband).
To have and to hold, from this day forward,
For better, for worse,
For richer, for poorer,
In sickness or in health,
To love and to cherish 'till death do us part.
And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
love and peace,
G
