The past two weeks have been  difficult beyond the ongoing vicissitude’s of life for Jerry and me. He watched his sister pass from cancer. She was fifty. I got an email from my former director telling of a veteran’s passing. I counseled his wife for five years and  though our therapeutic relationship ended, I often thought of her and her family. We were able to attend the veteran’s services.

Today I received the sorrowful news  a friend and Westchester  Council of the Blind member succumbed and died of a heart-related illness.

This poem is for them.

We Remember Them…

In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
We remember them;

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
We remember them;

In the opening of buds and in the warmth of summer,
We remember them;

In the rustling of leaves and the beauty of autumn,
We remember them;

In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We remember them;

When we are weary and in need of strength,
We remember them;

When we are lost and sick at heart,
We remember them;

When we have joys we yearn to share,
We remember them;

So long as we live, they too shall live
For they are now a part of us as
We remember them.

from Gates of Prayer,
Judaism Prayerbook