For Zola

I can relate so well to what you are going through. It is always tough to lose the ones we love. I will always remember your kindness when I lost my dad not so long ago. I would like to share with you two things that gave me great comfort and paid the highest respect for the person I lost.  I will quote you first and then Lilia Ahner because it was these two quotes that made me realize it was true and that great people everywhere are willing to go through whatever we are going through provided we are willing to share it with them.

"there is a special place in heaven for those in peril on the sea" .....ZK

"may your dad have fair winds and following seas" .....LA

So, I'm crying right now right along side of you because, you see,  it is the kindness of others that makes it possible to remember our loved ones best. Those two things said meant more to me than all the flowers and hugs because they were thought out, heartfelt and directly related to the loss I was feeling. I took this picture of a pillow that was in the flowers at my dad's funeral from the people I work with.  I walked in and thought "that is the most beautiful flower arrangement I have ever seen", and then I found out it was from my coworkers. All white flowers with huge dark pine branches reaching off in all directions and this pillow nestled between the branches. The towel is from my dad's bathroom.  After mom died dad converted to "bachelor pad" and put all red, white, and blue towels in the bathroom. He was a sailor after all. The little megaphone sat on my dad's computer desk and will now sit on ours as a reminder of him. They are but reminders but are treasured ones. Your words, and those of all you Voxers made such a vast difference in how I was able to grieve.  The kindness of strangers. It's like knowing that if some day I am somewhere unfamiliar, unsafe, destitute, that somebody will always step up and be human and help out just because they are good people. I am never alone in my grief.  I am comforted knowing that the world has such good hearted people left in it, even after the loss of one of the best. They have stepped in and taken over with their loving words and thoughts to comfort me in my hour of need. And so Zola, these tears are for your loss but also out of pure respect for the kindness I feel whenever I see a new post by you or read what is going on in your life. You are one of the good ones and I am grateful to have met you. My heart is with you and I feel what you are feeling. I am so very sorry.