Edna St. Vincent Millay's phrase "the presence of absence" came up in conversation today. In writing about my grief over Joanne's death seven years and five months ago, I often referenced it. In conversation with a widow, whose husband died two weeks ago, she mentioned it. During his working years he travelled much. She said now it seems he's just travelling and then the reality of his death hits. She has powerful experiences of the presence of absence.
Joanne's death continues to grieve me. But the grief is of a different intensity as time passes. There are fewer grief 'triggers' that throw me into sadness. Likely that's a factor of having experienced them so many times that their power wanes. It saddens me when I think of all that she is missing. Shortly after her death on April 12, I noticed buds on a hedge and it struck me that she's now going to miss the re-birth of spring. At some point being single and living alone became 'normal'.
Grief abounds in this life it's our opportunity to be there for those who suffer.
Takk for alt, MI
Al
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