Early Encounters with my friend Death
I am not sure when I first met Death… I have known them as long as I can recall.
Growing up in a rural town, making a living off the land, we took life in order to live. My father hunted elk for meat, and we butchered chickens, cows, and pigs.
I also had a soft spot for animals of every shape and size. Many times I raised a wounded or lost creature… a goldfinch, Pip Squeak the mouse, Apple Jack a jackrabbit… Not many lived more than a year.
Funerals of friends and relatives were common as well. Our town only had 200, so we knew everyone, and everyone felt like family. Many “adopted” grandparents blessed my life and taught me resilience, gardening, and how to really live!
Loss, Love and Lessons
I think the first time Death made a proper introduction to me was when I was 11, in a car accident. We lost a close friend who was more a sister than friend. She was just 3 years older than me. In the years that came after, I always kept a list of wishes if I died. Every journal I have has a page of Death.
I recall a moment in time I was visiting with a lady… Oh, I must have been in my teens and she in her 40s. I brought up Death as an old friend whom I knew and all the things I would do when they came for me. This lady’s reply to such idle chat was, “I never think about dying!” She seemed quite horrified that, for me, Death was normal.
But Death is normal.
It’s as normal as birth (which is curiously now an emergency to the general public, not an everyday occurrence—and the means by which every single human is waltzing around this planet right now).
It is true, Death should not be made an evil thing. It is also a bringer of peace. A giver of life. It supports each of us every day.
Death as a Friend Not an Acquaintance
Death came to visit last week—not in that I nearly died, but in that I saw my mortality made clear once more. A gentle reminder to live each moment to the fullest, most glorious enjoyment. I am grateful when I have these reminders. They keep me on my toes and give me a fresh breath of life to see the world.
I sat with Death for the few days they were with me. Reliving old tales of glory, watching my child dance in the rain, and savoring my tea.
A Visit Over Tea
The honor of visiting with Death is… like with a good friend, not all pleasant. There is the weight and desperation that comes knowing you really would rather stick around. Live just one more day.
But there is also peace. Acceptance. The knowing that I have lived, grown, and learned much. And that, when the time comes, I will be ready… even eager to pack my bag and take a trip!
It would be nice to get a fresh start! Rather like the Earth after a refreshing shower!!!
And when the time comes and Death picks up their luggage and steps out my door, I smile and wave. Death is my friend. They came to see me, as friends are wont. And we had a good chat over tea.
Peace, Acceptance, and Gratitude
Now, as I watch them walk away, I am grateful—for the lessons, for the clarity, for the friendship I have with Death. After all, who else can you rely on to be there for you, no matter what or where?
I breathe deep and steep in the calm of knowing that life and death are not enemies, but companions on the same journey. I am here, fully alive, and I trust that when my time comes, I will meet Death as an old friend—with peace, curiosity, and a quiet cackle.
I watch the golden sun rise from its nightly grave—a reflection of all things: beginnings and endings, life and death, light and shadow. In this endless cycle, I find serenity, joy, and profound gratitude. Today, I will live. Today, I am ready to arise once more.
Leave a Reply