Blue sky, crisp breeze, a new season.

A perfect day for walking and thinking,

for shedding the mantle of sadness

that has enveloped me since

your sudden death months ago.

Now that your life has been honored,

celebrated by colleagues, friends,

and family, I will hold you close

as I accept the reality of this age,

this time at the end of the great journey

when losing loved ones is the norm.

I will look each day for the small

joys that make life worth living,

and take comfort from my circles of 

women who share a great and common tenderness.