A Moment of Reflection

By Holly West

I'm taking the day off from regular posting on Do Some Damage today because I'm traveling to Iowa to celebrate the life of a dear friend who passed away unexpectedly on May 12.

Life has been a little surreal in the days since I learned about her death. Her presence in my life over the last twenty years cannot be overstated--so many of our experiences were intertwined they all seem to blend together now. Quite simply, she was always there and now she's not. It's impossible to comprehend.

Beyond the loss of a truly kind and absolutely unique friend, I found I've also lost the trust that I previously had in life itself. It's unthinkable that a person could be there one day and gone the next--that our bodies can betray us so quickly and definitely. Of course I know that I'm not the first person to suffer such a loss, but this is the first time it's happened to me and processing it has been difficult.

Perhaps this trip will bring closure of some sort. As much as I crave it I'm also resisting it because at this point, grieving is all I can do for her, as though my grief somehow makes amends for her death.

But she deserves the honor of a fitting farewell and so we, her friends, shall give it her. Nothing about her passing is right but we can come together and celebrate her and hope that wherever she is now, there is peace.