Loss

Pema Chodron:
"When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dying nature of your own being and of reality, you increase your capacity to love and care about other people and your capacity to not be afraid."

This trip to Ireland has turned into something very different than how it was planned. I'm staying with my husband's cousins who have become good friends over the 13 years since we met them. There has been an unexpected death in the family throwing every day life up in the air, the way death does. Thoughts and feelings are swirling, tears and stories are shared. I'm learning more family history. A home wake, the custom here in Count Clare, will be tomorrow and I'll attend. I'm letting it all in, being present, helping where possible. It's all I can do for now.