August 30.
An event which occurred around noon, in a hot hospital room in Macon, Georgia. This event predated the invention of air conditioning. An event predating my arrival on this blue marble by 5 years, 11 months and 2 weeks. An event which I have celebrated with Meredith for these past 34 years. We have had milestone celebrations. Thirty two years ago, after church we stopped for a snack and upon arrival home, there was a keg of beer, a fired up grill and about thirty five friends present to celebrate her safe passage of forty laps around the sun. Even Officer Goodbody stopped by to add to the celebration with a song and dance routine to the delight of all the ladies. Life was large.
Time went by, as it always does. With three milestone events in the same month, we decided to not exchange gifts but put the money toward vacations. Several trips to Keystone and Breckenridge for winter vacations. For ten years, we traveled to Lutherridge Retreat Center for Music Week. Six days of choir singing, bell ringing and new music reading sessions. We always stayed in the “campground”. A place away from all the dorms and meeting halls. Our place of solitude and togetherness. Some years we pitched a tent. Some years we borrowed a pop up camper. Life was still large.
Out of time and starting to have vision problems. Meredith, I never anticipated the loneliness. How all consuming and heavy. Attempting to accept that your leaving is final. No take backs. Even the final days, your presence in the house was so great. Now the house is almost as empty as my heart.
God speed and:
Happy Birthday Meredith.