Crossing Over

No one lives forever. Over the past years, I’ve survived the passing of just about everyone in our immediate family and on this day, only my younger sister and I remain. Some would say that we are in the twilight or sunset years of our lives, me, with year seventy four in the distant horizon, and little sis, in a state of health where I can’t decide if she is clinging to life or ready to surrender to the health issues that seem to have left her as a mere shell of the vibrant, intelligent and spirited woman that she used to be. Is this the way we are all destined to leave this world, sick, suffering, lost and totally dependent on others to do all the things we did for ourselves at one time but are no longer capable of doing? What happens to our purpose, our reason to live, our lust for life, when age and illness steal everything but the breath of life that forces us to endure another day? What ever happen to dying a natural death? When you’re beyond the point of being able to verbalize your thoughts, do the things you took for granted and exist in a world where you barely recognize your surroundings or the people that surround you, is another day a blessing or a curse? When those that love you, share the pain of being powerless to do anything but be supportive in any way they can as they watch you suffer and fade away, prayers pave the way to the inevitable ending that awaits all of us somewhere down the road. And, as it was with those loved ones, be it family or friends, who are no longer with us, those of us that are left behind, will weep, say our goodbyes and while the mourning never completely ends, we will go on with our lives until our life cycle comes full circle. We are born, we grow, we live, we love, we thrive, we age and at some point, we leave. We are loved and at some point, we will be remembered and missed.