Aunt Jane died Thursday evening after a series of health setbacks that she fought courageously and with a sense of humor. She had an exuberant spirit that served her well for 94 years. She once remarked, “I’d like to see the ocean again and I know that’s not possible, but I do have the trees on Locust Street.” Aunt Jane’s long life was endowed with an inner peace. She learned to separate those things she could control from the things she could not, she didn’t worry about matters beyond her power. This ability was the secret to her longevity. In the last few weeks Aunt Jane faded a bit, not her mind but her eyes, ears and strength. More and more of our conversation had to do with her readiness for death. She wasn’t depressed about the inevitable. Even less was she angry or fearful or wishing for the past. At the end on Thursday it was if she had a long day of visiting friends and going to the Kauffman Center, all things she loved. And then it was time to leave. When she was gone I thought of Emily Dickinson: “Because I could not stop for Death-He Kindly stopped for me.” I believe Aunt Jane was glad to see Him. We could well learn a lesson from how she handled aging, for that matter, life in general. God speed JWB, and a fond farewell.
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I’m going to bow off this keyboard early and will try to do better next week. Meanwhile, take care of yourself and take time to let the ones you care for know it. For nothing stays the same, including human beings and animals. We have to love them while they’re here. And that’s life, Old Buddy.
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'Til Next Week:
J.M.W.
