RIP

It is either an old saying or it is an old movie title, but it will serve us as food for thought for this blog entry..."Only the good die young."  

Tonight I sadly traveled to White Pine, Tennessee, to attend the receiving of friends for a good one who died young.  She was only 43 years of age.  In other words, she basically had her whole life still ahead of her.  

I don't think Scarlet would mind my sharing her name with you.  I didn't know her personally as I encountered her probably 20 years ago on the job where I was working at the time.  She was a vibrant, competent, caring, and dedicated mental health professional who served those with whom she worked very well.  I could not only depend on Scarlet to do her job and do it well, but she was a joy with whom to work.  I simply liked her. 

I do not know the circumstances which caused her death, and I do not need to know.   I am not God and not in control of such a critical event.   I do know she was going about living her life, as we all do, but all of a sudden she hit a brick wall and was gone. 

As you would expect, the receiving of friends was indeed a very sad occasion.  Her husband, mother, father, and children were all there to mourn the passing of their loved one and accept the condolences of her other family members and friends.  However, what struck me the most was how her loved ones had created a memorial to Scarlet in that somewhat small room in the funeral home.  Even though she had been cremated, they had done such a good job in creating a sense of Scarlet that I could feel her presence and was assured that all is well her now.

Scarlet loved the beach and her family had done an excellent job in the presentation of that fact.  There were odds and ends of wall hangings, what knots, and trinkets that were all beach themed.   Their video memorial that was playing in the background was even beach themed.  There was a nice sized picture of Scarlet from Gone With The Wind which gave the impression it had belonged to our Scarlet and that perhaps she had been named after the star of the novel and movie.  They also had other items which appeared to have belonged to her that she had cherished and enjoyed.  A stuff bear particularly caught my eye.  I could just imagine Scarlet coming home after a long day at work, grabbing that bear and giving it a big squeeze in an effort to release some stress from her stress filled job.

One didn't have to know Scarlet to get the idea that she loved life just from the display of her personal belongings.  I particularly was impressed with three dressy dresses that they had displayed with pictures of Scarlet wearing them.  I thought that was extra special and spoke of Scarlet's love of life and all it had offered her.

So, how do you celebrate the life of one gone too soon?  I think Scarlet's family did an exceptional job and I know she was looking down with a big smile on her face in approval.

Scarlet did go far too early in her life.  But, she isn't the only one to do so.  Newspaper obituaries often include the death of those whose years have been cut and they have been seemingly robbed of their allotted days.  And, we will never know why, at least not on this earth we won't.  But, we can rejoice in the fact that they did cross our paths during our life's journey .  

So Scarlet, rest in peace, my dear.  Although a short life, yours was well lived.  We were blessed to have known you.  You definitely are among the good who died too young!

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