Dancing with a Limp

You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp. ~ Anne Lamott

I had a different blog planned tonight but things changed a little in the past hour or so. I had shared this quote earlier this week with a friend who lost a sibling and return to it now because I found it comforting when I sent it to her.

When I got home from work today, my mother had left a message asking me to call her back. She had news that an uncle who had been sick had died. He had suffered a lot lately and so it was not too much of a surprise. His son, my cousin, had sent me an update fairly recently but I still had not expected his death. He was my dad’s younger brother and in childhood days, our families spent time together, usually during summer vacation. I last saw them here when they had come on a bus tour. At the time my uncle was worried about Dad, but he did not look great himself. I always feel blessed when my dad’s family gets together. His siblings have great times teasing each other and carrying on. A good sense of humour runs in the family.

I think my dad’s heart has never completely healed or sealed back up from the many losses over the years. His parents died the year I was born—50 years ago now. Two other brothers have passed away too. Dad has arm-wrestled Death many times and won.

As I came up to write my piece tonight, I got an email message from my brother that he was in town because his wife’s sister had suddenly died. They missed her passing by an hour. That sucks.

I feel quite sad as I write this because I know what it is like to lose a sibling and I know how that changes everything. I know that it is possible to dance with that limp but you don't know that until much time has passed. I have been doing it for years. May peace settle in the soul of those mourning these losses tonight.

Peace,

Suzanne