It's been one of those months around here that just takes your wind and knocks you off your feet for a while. I don't have the gusto to write much at the moment but I'm trying regain my new year's determination. January started out with a flood of fresh optimism. For me this year marks the end of a decade and the beginning of a broad new life. Luke and I will celebrate our 10 year anniversary in May...10 years of crazy change and challenges and growth...moving a thousand miles from home, learning how to navigate married life, adding four kids, among other things. I'm starting to think it takes at least 10 years of adulthood to just start figuring out "who you are." In that sense, growing older is a beautiful experience.
Mid-January we recieved an email from a very dear friend. Paul and Ros Carey lived here Owosso in the first years of our marriage. They were here for Samuel's birth, and when we bought our first house. We celebrated their wedding with them and the birth of their firstborn, Nathalie. They were our closest friends in those years and such a blessing in our lives. Paul and Luke had been friends since college...one of those few friends in life whom he considered a kindred spirit. They were like brothers. Ros and I quickly became close friends. Several years ago they moved to be near Paul's family, then recently they relocated to Ros' native Australia. Like us, Paul and Ros have four small children. They had always hoped to go back to Australia and were so happy to be there.
Ros emailed to let us know that Paul had had a severe asthma attack and died. He was 33 years old. I could say a lot about all my reflections and feelings in the following weeks, but I'd rather share Ros' words which we all have heard and maybe even said...words that we believe but mostly don't think about in our everyday lives: "hug those you love... there really may not be a tomorrow..." I know this has been a really difficult experience for Ros and her family to go through, full of mixed emotions and so many memories. A deep loss and an opportunity to grow. I admire her greatly.
Take some time to check out Ros' blog: Living Upside Down
And this video commemorating Paul's life: Paul Carey
Love to all~
Ruthie
who are you,little i
14 years ago
2 comments:
Some days it's easy to feel unbreakable like a superhero, but life really IS so fragile.
It's things like this that remind us of our mortality.
Very true, Ros. Life is so transient...it's through change and challenges that we grow.
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