The Ocean of Grief

When you stand at the edge of the ocean and the waves knock you down with your grief, sometimes you just have to sit and wallow in it blending your salty tears with the salt water. As time goes by, you stand up and the waves of grief will come, usually a steady, gentle reminder of your loss. There will also be sudden times when an unexpected big wave will make you lose your balance or even knock you over. Tears once again combine with the salted sea.

The waves drift in with caresses of memories that touch you. You savor them and hope that as they flow in and out of your life, that you will not lose some of them as time and distance separates you.

You learn to live with the ebb and flow of life and of death, never stagnant, always touching you. Today I may need to wallow a little. I don't think it's a bad thing as long as I get up again, and I will.

Missing you, Mom. Five years gone today. Love you more than words can say.