what she was taught and then taught me

There was a period of intense mourning and grief in her life.

While bearing the pain of such an enormous loss

a priest

from the hospital stood near

and with a steady certainty said:

"You WILL get through this."

"You WILL."

"it might seem like there is no end to your grief

but there will be a time where you'll look back and know

that everything that happened

was part of everything else.

every moment,

sad or joyful...

helped to create YOU."

What an amazing sculpture.

What a masterful piece of art.

Our histories... our bodies... our lives.

She told me that she wished there was always a person close by

reminding her that she will get through this.

that

this too shall pass.

"how nice it would be to have someone from the outside

looking in."

I told her

that her story is now that presence in my life.

and when grief that is much bigger than my little life

starts to swallow me in its breadth...

I will remember her story...

how she did get through it

and will continue to get through this life.

sharing her stories

and her insight.