My Friends, Love and Death

Tonight, the subject seems to steer toward death. A topic I feel woefully underprepared with which to deal.

Ultimately, time is short. Love is everything. It shines, it endures, it is our guiding star. Yet, we can only know it in this human form for such a limited time. A blink, really. Love is forever, but a hug is only a minute. A kiss, a few seconds. An “I love you,” a fleeting whisper. I want to experience so much more love. Receiving, giving, reciprocating, emanating.

Not because death is the bugaboo lurking around the corner, but because it is the catalyst of gratitude for this moment. Without death, this experience, our experience of love wouldn’t be the same.

I want all of love. I want the love that keeps me warm at night. The love that kisses my children good night. The love that keeps you in my dreams. The love that makes my heart both ache and sing. The love that turns to grief when it has nowhere to call home. I want it all.

Death may make its way to my door thousands of moons from tonight - and I will walk the path to Valhalla or Suto'vo'qor or Heaven in peace, if only I have loved well.