Full Of Laughter And Light...

 Hi.

This week, it's personal.

When you come from a family, the size of which would fill a forest, not just a tree, the unwelcome heaviness of saying good-bye comes far too often.  

This is Debbie. 

Although a family the size of ours tends to spread out over time, the connections remain. Debbie was one of my cousins who grew up and lived in the same town as I. She was a few years older, but I spent a ton of time at their house growing up, and was privileged to spend some time in the same town as she and her husband lived when they were a new family finding their legs, and I was fresh from the nest. 

From what seemed like a mount Everest type adventure with Katimavik, right out of high school to the shenanigans of her country kitchen days, to becoming a wife and mom, and caring for people for a living, she lived a big life, though, not nearly long enough.

I will always remember Debbie as a kind, adventurous spirit, always full of life and laughter. Although we didn't see much of each other as full grown adults, she was such a bright light for so many, even when she was so young, I can't imagine that diminished in any capacity as she spread her wings, over time, further from home.

I know she was surrounded by love as her soul took flight from the confines of the body that could no longer support her. As there is some solace in that, because of that love, there will be far too many that will so deeply feel this loss.

It's a privilege to love deep enough to mourn someone once they've gone, and a privilege to be loved enough to be mourned. That privilege does little to ease the pain, especially in the moment, but is what helps us put one foot in front of the the other as we walk through the fog of it. 

When the memories begin to bring more smiles than tears, and the deepest, darkest heaviness begins to fade, and we, once again, can begin to take in full breaths, the privilege of that love is what encourages  us as we keep going, doing our best to live the life they would have wanted for us. 

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Deb...

So full of mischief and light, laughter and love.

You will be sooooooo missed.