Sunday Sorrow on Mellow Yellow Monday

Cloudless sky

Gentle Breeze

Warm sun kisses my arms

The rustle of dried leaves

Creates music in the air.

Sunday morning was filled with possibilities. The quiet of Borders was just right at opening. The vacuum purred; books and gift items rolled out in carts onto the sidewalk and into the entryway; the coffee was hot and delish.

I managed to read my way through the eight pages of assigned reading for my Monday night class and tucked in a phone call to my sister in between. Good news and not so good was shared and soon enough the call to head home sirened in my mind.

The sun felt so good on my arms as I walked to my car. The air smelled so fresh and the breeze tickled. I was ready for a good rest of the day. But . . .

. . . a call arrived that turned the peace of the day upside down. Two tight families are suffering twin tragedies. Krista's mil-to-be suffered the sudden and unexpected loss of her much loved brother, Ernie. Suddenly family was pouring in from throughout California and Arizona. No sooner was that known then Chad's (Ernie's nephew and Krista's beau) best friend's father was also felled by a stroke. Two strokes. Two family men. One weekend. One death. And one, Tony, fighting for survival in Georgia (where he was visiting for a few days).

How does one cope with such sudden and striking catastrophe? Two families, both so tightly intertwined together. Ashley, Tony's daughter, is like Krista; a presumed to be future daughter-in-law when educations are completed and two brothers (Chad and Chandler) are settled. And Anthony, best friend to Chad and Chandler.

I feel all this from a distance, connected through Krista's love for Chad and her closeness to Ashley and her family and our own respect and good feelings for these families. I can't help thinking about how hard and confusing life is going to be for these people for a while.

Please remember Ernie and pray for the repose of his soul. Also please pray for Tony that he will recover and in quick time be able to return home. And remember their families, so closely intertwined with ties of love and friendship.