A sad day...

Today was a very difficult day for me.  I attended the funeral of a longtime family friend.  He was 84 years old when he passed, and had lived a wonderful and full life.

This kind man and his wife were very good friends of my parents.  I knew him for as long as I could remember.  His children were only a few years older than me...although sadly both of them passed away several years ago.   This lovely man was also my band director in Junior High School.  He and his wife were members of First Presbyterian Church, and he directed the Chancel choir that Mom was a member of for many years...and I sang with for several years.  His wife is a PEO, just like my Mom, my sisters and me.

Now at 54 I've attended my share of funerals!  Family, co-workers, children, friends, acquaintances, to name just a few.  But today this one hit me very hard!  Perhaps it's because I saw a number of people from my past who meant a great deal to me.  Perhaps it was because this person was such a huge reminder of my youth...a simpler time in life.  Perhaps it was the fact that I found out that his wife could not be there today due to Alzheimer's or perhaps it was because I face my mortality on a daily basis and that really hit me today.  Whatever it was its been a tremendously sad and difficult day for me.  One of those that I'm very grateful for my strong support network!

Thank you Mr. Bense for being a positive influence in my life.  You will never be forgotten...God Bless you!

Kathy xoxo