Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Right there.
What if those were some of the only words I could speak?
How would I let my loved ones know how much I care for them?
How would I light up a room with humor and joy?
How would I share insights into the meaning of life?
How would I convey my ideas?
So many days I fumble on my words
I have trouble articulating how I feel
I get frustrated as I fail to verbalize my ideas to others
I ramble and ramble yet say so little
And then there was you, Ken
There were limits to what you could utter through your lips
So sometimes it was just "Right there"
And that was enough
"Right there" was enough for you to speak more truth to this world
than most other human beings do with limitless words
"Right there" was more than enough to make us laugh, smile, ponder deeper and feel loved
"Right there"
The conversation would be flowing
Ping pong
back and forth of ideas and stories and dreams
Then with perfect timing
You would see a connection and notice something none of us had and
"Right there" would bring insight and depth to the moment
"Right there"
Somedays you would try to explain something
It may take quite a bit of time till I could catch onto what you wanted to share
Then I would finally get it
"Right there!" you would exclaim - it is about time I figured it out
"Right there"
Your sense of humor came shining through
You wouldn't miss a beat and the punch line "Right there" completed endless jokes
Bellies tired from joyful laughing
"Right there"
You would say nervously as the children were swimming out in the chilly Sacandaga waters
further then your heart could take
Your concern for their safety would ring out and show your care
"Right there"
You would gesture how big the kids have grown since you last saw them
Or how enormous the fish was that got away
Or how someone brought a new significant other into the mix
"Right there"
A grandchild, wife, child, friend
would accomplish something grand
would share something special
You would celebrate with a joyful and proud "Right there!"
Then there were the still and quiet moments
The wind blew gently through the trees
the bold large white clouds shaded our spot on the grass above the beach
Some of us gazed out to the mountains beyond the waters
Some of us swatted flies
Some of us sipped our afternoon drink
"Right there" passed your lips, almost as if it were just another exhale
It was full of gratitude and acknowledgement for the moment before us
The moment we were in
There would be no going back to that moment, ever again
You knew that
And so you acknowledged and reminded us…
"Right there"
All there really is in life…is "Right there"
Just before us -
to see, to celebrate, to acknowledge, to find joy in, to be grateful for
You taught us that
I know now that you are "Right there"
Held in our hearts forever
Missed deeply
Manifest in the moments when we find the grace to speak and live the words
"Right there"
