Going to New York to the memorial service of my Aunt's best friend's son was emotionally taxing, so much happened,and I intended on writing about it all. But I had decided against taking my computer, and I am glad that I did not. Sometimes experiences are to be thought about and not necessarily written about. We set out with good food and music and storytelling, but as we got closer to New York, the mood became reticent and somber. On our return, we all felt a weariness and a lightness.
I got alot out of the experience, although I did not know the young man, I knew his mother, and I found myself asking in my head, the purpose of life, the point of the effort we put into certain things, and then my cousin, who is only three years younger than her son, asked me the same question and I was able to tell him that we all come to the Earth for 'life.' Somehow, we all want to experience 'it.' It is not experienced in vain or without meaning.

I saw the marked difference in the way that my aunts, her friend and my sister lives. I gave alot of thought to the choices that people make. I pondered the decisions that these women were and are faced with, I thought about the decisions I too am faced with. I thought about my little one constantly, as I always do, and hoped that I could impart guides for her life that will help her negotiate her journey ahead.

I discovered things about myself and my views on working, on love and on compassion. I foiled a disagreement that could have brewed with my sister by appealing to her sensitive side by being sensitive myself to her expected response.
I embraced New York, and I missed things about it I had forgotten.
I also felt that it is conquerable as far as my Art is concerned and that made me feel very, very good.

I felt that in some way I had rested from myself and my worries for a moment, although I carried myself with me.

We all felt that his death brought to all of us, an awareness of something much bigger than ourselves. He chose his life to tell us something about our own, to alert us to what is really important.

I thank you Mark.