Watch the Ottoman! - 28 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 595

Micah 6:8
Proverbs 16:17-19
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On this date, 28 October1964, the 100th episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” aired. Jacki and I always thought Dad and Dick Van Dyke were very similar, although I don't remember Dad ever tripping over an ottoman when he came home. (Did you know there were two versions of that opening? One where he trips and one where he steps around it. They randomly rotated the openings each week. Pretty fun.)

Anyway, seeing that in a "this day in history" listing made me think (duh) of Dad, and I was originally going to save this for a post when we got closer to a memorial service, but since I have no idea when that will actually happen (and I like this piece) I decided to go ahead and post this now.

It was originally written when Dad's father died back in 1983, but I've used it quite a few times since.

For Grandpa

Suddenly we are without you:
Without your life and laughter.
And yet; we are not less,
The world is not less:
Where, then, is the loss?

Deep within us all,
At the core of each of us,
In the hearts of those you love, and who love you,
There is still your laughter, your life, your light:
Where, then, is the loss?

We weep for ourselves,
For our family and friends who feel a loss;
At times we think we weep for you.
But you are with God, with Christ:
Where, then, is the loss?

What is lost has yet to come:
The beauty and the wonder we'll long to share with you,
The children who'll not hear your laugh, not see your light.
But through our lives, our love, and laughter, they'll know yours:
Where, then, is the loss?

We weep at our pain,
At our bewilderment at your death.
And yet with you, for you, we must rejoice!
You have left pain behind, and fear and longing as well.
Where, then, is the loss?

What is lost is the easy affection we thought would never leave.
What is lost is your smiling face each evening, each morning.
What is lost is myriad things we wouldn't believe could go.
But realizing this much, we realize more:
There is no loss – there is only Love.

copyright by Charlie van Becelaere, administered by Grand Teuton Press, all rights reserved

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.