Charlie-
Believe me, I've had my moments.
Especially for the first few days after it happened, I was very shook up, tearful, and "spacey'....I am very blessed to have an amazing (small but amazing) circle of friends and family, and also very fortunuate to have worked hard to develop a spiritual core. My mother is a retired ER/ICU nurse, so she was wonderful to lean on; another very special friend is retired Army Special Forces- his sharing of personal experiences witnessing sudden death, and then also serving the duty of accompanying fallen soldiers home to thier families really helped me to feel supported and understood as I helped Craig's friends come to some (initial) peace and understanding- in some respect I felt like I carried Craig's "flag". My girlfriends have been wonderful......
I didn't write about it here (I don't think), but on the Wednesday after Memorial Day I went with Craig's best friend and his wife (both who had known Craig for over 20 years) to the site of Craig's passing. Another set of friends had already placed a cross, and the three of us spent a couple of hours there, clearing the area of trash, creating a special place in a very personal way, and sharing.
Craig's remaining biological family has some "issues" let's say, Craig's friends rallied, and we had a cookout in his honor last Sunday, which was very special. I think I may have written that we took time and made a circle and I shared some of what I've written about Craig's passing, and then folks shared and cried and laughed. Hearing and seeing the bikes at this cookout was very healing (desensitization
).
We all agree that Craig, as a man, might not have done well were he to have survived, perhaps significantly disabled. Too much of an independent, free spirited man. He LIVED his life.....At the BIAA meet we were trading life slogans- I told him I've finally learned "Don't waste the pretty." and he said that he'd finally learned "You get what you stand in line for." I roared at that one....several ways you can take it!
