Goodbye Good Friend April 10 2011
Today I listened to a pile of voicemails on my cell phone,
And heard your voice, your words of love,
From before you died last week –
Like words from spirit-life —
A greeting in your voice
After my heart has said good-bye
And wept from missing you.

This weekend, too, upon finding friends

Who’d come across the country to a meeting.
I realized just how strong connection is
When we love each other in this world.

If it’s happy-making to connect again
Within this life,
How much more so it must be
When, travelers to another realm,
We find again the souls with whom
We’ve shared our love while here.

Reflection
I’ve learned that when people close to me leave this life a piece of me goes with them; likewise, a piece of them stays behind in my heart, where it’s always been. My good friend Carol died this past week. Yes, she’d been ill. But as long as she was here, present, and I experienced her friendship, feeling her life force, she was truly here, and I related to her in super-time, unmeasured and dimensionless. I called Carol last Sunday, a week ago. I found her in the hospital, again. This time she said good-bye, and said she was leaving this life. I called again on Tuesday, and she’d died. My heart has been mourning the hole where her delicious friendship, her vibrant wit, her down to earth common sense, her amazing fortitude and courage had resided.

Five years ago, I moved across the country coast to coast, leaving good friends to come back near family – grandchildren, especially. This weekend, I encountered these friends again, by surprise, at a professional meeting. We had a raucous, joyful, affectionate reunion. I knew again, as I’ve known before with others, how hearts that connect stay connected over time and space. We picked up where we had left off, as if we’d never been apart. 

I was surprised to find Carol’s voice mail message when I had a moment to check messages on my way home. I felt the same strong heart connection with Carol as with my California friends. Carol has left for another place. But our spirits’ link will live on, strong and loving. One day I will follow Carol on that trip and reconnect joyfully, raucously, blissfuly with those from whom I’ve been separated, even as I move away temporarily from others who will remain on earth. We are all one, and our unity is a joyful blessing.