Carol A. Hand
The love of my youth is dying
On earth, this lifetime, we’ll not meet again
A long life is sometimes a blessing
but surviving dear friends brings such pain
Truly gentle men are so rare to find
The world doesn’t treat them well
They often ease disappointments silently
with distractions to escape an inner hell
À bientôt, my beloved friend
May you finally know peace deep and true
Please know you’ll always remain in my heart
Though, from afar, I must send my final earthly loving adieu

February 27, 2017
for David
There are so many better ways to say “farewell” in French. It’s the language of the heart. I turn to it now to express the depth of my grief and sense of loss.
Carol, I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful farewell to a dear friend. My heart goes out to you.
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Thank you so much for your kind and comforting comments, Maria. ❤
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My deepest sympathy Carol. Hugs, too.
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Thank you so much for your kindness and hugs, Trace.
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une amitié exceptionnelle … condoléances
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Thank you for your kind words, Diane. It was an exceptional friendship. He was my daughter’s father. He passed away in the evening the day I posted this, before my daughter could catch a flight to go see him.
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From how you described him, I expect their spirits visited even though she could be with him in person.
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Thank you for your comforting comments. ❤
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Thinking of you, Carol, I am so sorry, a lovely tribute to your friend.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Chris. I’m deeply grateful. ❤
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I am so sorry, Carol.
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Thank you so much for your kindness, Dave. ❤
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Carol…my deepest condolences. What a beautiful, loving gift, this post. ❤
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Carrie. ❤
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Une amitié exceptionnelle … condoléances, dear sweet Carol! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you so much for your lovely, thoughtful comments, Natalie. ❤
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My pleasure dear Carol❣️😘
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How soulful, Carol. My condolences to you and all who love your friend.
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Cynthia. ❤
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It is so hard to loose the friends of our youth. Every time one passes you losses a piece of your heart and a piece of your history.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, Bernadette. ❤
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Beautiful words from a beautiful person. x
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Nelly. ❤
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Carol, my sympathies.
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Thank you so much for your kinds words, Peter. ❤
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So sad to hear about your loss ! May God give you patience
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Thank you so much for your kind words and blessings, Sana.
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I’m with you in your pain, Carol. Losing our loved ones is one of our greatest difficulties as humans ❤
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Dear Rosaliene, than you so much for your thoughtful, empathetic comments. ❤
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My heart breaks for you my dear. Thank you for sharing your heart. May God blanket your grief with his peace and mercy. Amen
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Dear Ray, I appreciate your kind words and blessings deeply. Thank you. ❤
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I used to argue with my father. I’d tell him I would like to live forever. He’d say he’d hate to live on while his friends and family past on. It’s not like we have a say in it. We get tired like the creeks change paths and the mountains slip into the draws. It seeps in gradually even when it’s quick. Keep your eyes wide and strong for your good friend, Carol. He may be looking back for them. Take care.
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I appreciate your deep and thoughtful comments, Bob. Your father sounds like a very wise man. Fatigue does seep in, but there are still children and grandchildren to care for and meaningful work that needs doing. Rest will come in its own time and moments of beauty to ease weary souls. ❤
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PS your snowflakes look like stars to me.
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They do look like stars. Somehow the picture just seemed to fit the moment.
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Carol, I am most sorry for your loss. As we get older, I find it hard to tell if the still-ahead opportunities to learn and grow and give (and raise a little hell!) truly make up for all the people we must mourn. Yet refusing to care is no option at all. So … we carry on — you do it thoughtfully and with grace; I just keep snarling and swearing. – Linda
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Thank you so much for your lovely, thoughtful comments, Linda. Yes, we carry on because, as you so eloquently say, “refusing to care is no option at all.” ❤
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Beautiful. The second stanza of your poem is especially inspired, in that it perfectly and succinctly captures ‘the way it is.’
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Thank you for your lovely, thoughtful comments, Mister Muse. It is deeply troubling that the sensitive among us often need to escape from the world as it is. At least my friend is finally at peace now.
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I had two strong reminders of the impermanence of our earthly life – an elderly friend of mine is in the hospital recuperating from what could have been a fatal illness; and one of my husband’s closest high school buddies who probably only has a few weeks to live (dying from cancer). It has shaken me up, I am doubting everything but also reminding myself to stay in the now and let it be enough. Blessings to you in your grieving time.
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Thank you for sharing your experiences with suffering, Annette, and your thoughtful reflections about grieving. I send my best wishes to you along with my gratitude for your kindness. ❤
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In my thoughts I’ll send you a hug,
Hanneke
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Dear Hanneke, thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments. I’m deeply grateful to you. ❤
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What a deeply moving tribute to your loss Carol. Sending loving kindness your way. ❤✌🏽
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Dear Marahu, I’m deeply greatly for your kind words and blessings. I send my thanks, as well as blessings to you and your husband. ❤
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Read this lovely piece early on and found it beautifully touching. Thought I had responded before now. Must have suffered some device-related distraction… After just reading the comments I understand dimly the extent of the grief that you and your daughter share. So sorry to hear, Carola.
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Dear Bob, thank you so much for your lovely comments. My friend’s death has left an ache in my heart, and even though we didn’t speak often, the earth feels lonelier with his passing.
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