I got home late, after stopping for a parent teacher conference at my daughter’s school. I have a few days left of the online classes I’m doing and am behind. Perhaps, I thought, I can catch up a little.

But first, I checked email to see if there was anything that needed a response. Nope. Next, on to social media and I see the word, “unexpectedly”. A friend wrote, “Early this morning, my father died very unexpectedly”.

I listen to Sting, How Fragile We are. I cue up Box of Rain by the Grateful Dead. No. I won’t get much studying done this evening. I won’t write a complicated blog post. Instead, I will think of the saying, “May his memories be a blessing to all of us.”

In a Facebook group I’m part of friends are pasting pictures of the town I grew up in. I look at pictures of Montgomery’s General Merchandise store that was across the street from the elementary school I went to. I look at pictures of Spring Street, where I hung out when I was in high school. Many great memories, all of which are blessings.

I have a list of songs on Spotify that I play when someone I know dies. I pause my writing to interact with folks a little on social media and Sarah McLachlen’s “I will remember you” comes on.

“Don’t let your life pass you by, weep not for the memories”