Until Tonight ....

Sitting on a bench this evening, listening to the end of the day.

Taking in the declining sun and a gentle breeze.

Reading about the final months of someone I didn't know but knew of. 

I had learned several years ago about her illness. 

I tried to reach out a few times and received understandable silence.

I attempted for a while to be attentive to what was going on in her world.

She seemed to be doing well though I suspected otherwise.

But eventually, I had forgotten about her. 

Until tonight ..... 

I read that she had passed away ..... last year it was.

Tonight, I read about her passion for life while facing its end.

About a soul that couldn't be kept down.

And wondered what those last days must have been like.

How do you hold onto hope in your moments alone?

I went to her social media page and there's not even a mention of her passing.

The posts just end ...... which feels so sad.

Maybe that's how she wanted it. 

Only the people closest to her to know. 

The sun dropped out of view. The breeze faded. 

The fishers off in the distance, called it a day. 

I walked away from that bench but have been thinking of her all evening.  

This bench is up on a hill at the Catholic Abbey in Mt. Angel, Oregon. One of the more peaceful places I know of. From here you can look down at the Willamette Valley. Or walk across the courtyard and on clear days you can view Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens.

Photo is from June 2019.