Day 312

This evening, I came home from the archery range and before plugging my phone in, I checked facebook. As I was scrolling, I learned that my dad’s cousin’s wife’s mother died this morning from COVID. I’ve only recently connected with Dad’s extended family, and only last month did I meet his cousin and his cousin’s wife via zoom. Though I never met the woman who died, the moment I read about it, I started to cry. There have been so many deaths since Dad died. So many lives that could have been saved if only we had a rational and caring government. And every time CNN does a tribute to someone who died I cry. With each death I relive Dad’s final moments. The awful way in which we had to say goodbye. Biden finally acknowledged the pain Americans have suffered, but nothing will bring back our loved ones. They can light candles from now until eternity, but the pain of missing will never go away. The sorrow, the holes left in our hearts will forever be there. For those of you who have been lucky enough not to be touched by this virus, those of you who haven’t had bury a loved one, can look at the number — 420,000 — and shake your heads and perhaps experience a moment of sadness, or even anger. But for me, every time I hear of someone dying, I see Dad. The hole in my heart gets ripped open again and I cry for my father, and in sympathy with everyone else who has lost a loved one. 

Tonight, please keep my father’s cousin’s family in your prayers. And pray that this will all soon end.