MORE SAD

          Sunday morning, I looked at my email for the first time since Friday. I was just so very very busy on Saturday…hah. I wasted, if you want to call it that, the entire day watching “Heartland” on Netfliks. I began before 9:00 am and didn’t stop until after midnight. I did take bathroom and food breaks and wrote my post, but spent the day in my nightie with one or both of the doggies on the couch staring at the television. Don’t ask me why because I honestly don’t know. I just did it.

          In some ways, I’m very sorry I ever started watching “Heartland.” It has 11 seasons and so far, 18 shows per season. I think I just finished the fourth season. It’s produced in Canada and set in Alberta. I’ve never been there, but the scenery is gorgeous and I do so envy the folks who star in this program. It’s set on a ranch called Heartland with an entire family from Grandpa to the baby just born in the last episode I watched. The ranch has beautiful horses and one of the granddaughters is a “horse whisperer,” who becomes known as “The Miracle Girl.” I would absolutely love to live there and ride horses all the dang time.

          Perhaps I just needed to escape for the day between John’s birthday and Father’s Day. That’s what I’m going to attribute it to. I spent the day in Alberta with a group of friends I really love. Spending virtual time with them made me feel good and didn’t allow me to think of much else.

          Back to Sunday morning and my email. The second email in my feed was from Judy, the wife of a man with whom I went to high school. Her email was to inform me (and others) that Dale had passed away early Saturday morning. Like John, Dale had been battling health issues for some time, and I know their lives had not been easy. Still, when one of you suddenly, even if you expect it, has gone on ahead, it’s very difficult. I sympathize deeply with this friend.

          Dale and I both went to Lincoln High School. We didn’t have many classes together, but I knew him. When he went off to the Air Force, he wrote to me for a time, and then we lost touch. Years later, John and I became great friends with Dave who had met Dale at North Seattle Community College after he, Dave, moved to Seattle. In any case, Dave brought Dale and his wife back into our lives. It was good to see an old friend, and we always saw them at least once a year at a July 4^th picnic.

          Twelve years ago, at that picnic, Dale wanted to know where I’d been in June. Turned out our high school’s 45^th reunion had been held then. Obviously, I wasn’t there, but told Dale I’d go to the 50^th with him. And, I did and it now seems impossible that it was only seven years ago. So few years really, when both Dale and John were in good health. So few years, and now they are both gone.

          I know there won’t be a picnic this July 4^th because of the pandemic. I also know there most likely won’t be a funeral or memorial for Dale because of the pandemic. In some ways I’m happy about the picnic not happening because not only would I miss John’s presence so very much, but now I would also miss Dale. I think I’ve reached that point in life where there are going to be more and more people whose absence will be noted and missed by me until the time comes where I’m absent as well. I know it’s all part of living, but dang it, I sure don’t like it much at all.