Dress code was—purple shirts. Mike was like that—not a formal guy, though he could look very nice in a suit. Attendees were artists, writers, scientists, churchly folk, fans, neighbors—amazing mix.
It’s hard when somebody goes so young. It was hard.
Still can’t believe it. But it is.
Funerals are often about how to support one another after a loved one is gone. One makes new webs to join across the space where the loved one was. These webs are often fleeting, but I believe that they are needed to keep the bottom from dropping out entirely.
Sometimes they also give you shirts with memories attached.
I hope the doctors are able to determine why Mike went downhill so quickly, after what sounded like initially was a minor complaint, if only to help the next person. Is there a request for a charitable donation in memoriam?
http://www.bfhs.com/
http://wolfhaven.org/
https://www.catholiccharitiesspokane.org/
Those three. We still don’t know what was wrong.
Funerals are hard. Death pulls a person up by the roots, and you never realize how deep those roots go, nor how far they reach until that person is taken from you. Those left behind have to figure out a way to deal with the big ragged tear their loss leaves behind and somehow darn the fabric of the world back together.
I watched my dad decline for a good ten years to the point his death was a mercy for all concerned, and especially him. I had all that time to come to terms with the loss of the man I had loved all my life and make my peace with his passing. He was gone a long time before we actually lost him. Even so, it was a very hard thing to go through. I cannot imagine how completely devastating it must be to lose with so little warning someone alive, vital, healthy, aware, engaged and young.
Make that “someone SO alive . . .”
Purple is neither too somber nor too light-hearted and there’d be a variety of interpretations. It seems like a way to honor and celebrate a life and respect one’s passing.
Peace and strength in the time ahead for Patty and other family and friends, and for you, CJ and Jane.
The story on the Purple Avenger…
something awful happened—a neighbor behaving badly—and Mike was angry,and wanting to do something awful back. Wouldn’t we all?
But he decided it would be better to do something outstandingly good for others, as his way of balancing the universe. That was the birth of the Purple Avenger. We’re proud to have the tee-shirts.
A little shade-tree karmic mechanics. . .
That sounds like the proverbial lemonade from lemons.