A Post from 2009 by Kathryn Byer

Tonight while searching through the Archives of our Netwest blog, I came across this lovely post by then Poet Laureate of NC, Kathryn Stripling Byer. I want to share it because some of you did not know me then.

http://netwestwriters.blogspot.com/2009/08/barry-and-glenda-beall-celebration.html

So much has changed in my life since July, 2009, and continues to change rapidly. Many losses of family members. 

But I have been lucky to meet and know you, my readers, and I've been fortunate to meet interesting  people through my writing studio and travel for writing events. 

That is life, isn't it? Each day brings something new and we hope for more good days than bad. We hope when the phone rings it will be good news, not bad. We hope we can make and keep our plans for the week. But we never know.

Maybe . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Tonight I have come from the sight of my dear sweet brother , Rex, lying in his casket while many, many people gathered and told stories of their lives with him. A lovely video had been created with photos of him - some in snow and some in warm climates. He was a traveler. Nothing made him happier than climbing behind the wheel of his automobile and taking off to distant places he wanted to see and experience. His wife was a trouper and accompanied him wherever he wanted to go.

His death, so sudden and unexpected, shocked all of us, his brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren who stood looking at his kind face with numb disbelief on their faces.

Rex was a generous man with compassion for others. He could diplomatically negotiate any reasonable deal that had escalated out of proportion, be it family or non-family. He kept his emotions out of the argument. Logical reasoning and his quiet demeanor made people to listen carefully when he spoke.

I listened to his good advice on many matters and I'm so, so happy I did.

Over and over tonight I heard, "what will we do without him? What will Nancy do?"

We will learn the way and we will go on, but it won't be easy. Every person who called him friend, lost a major part of their lives on February 14, when Rex left this earth.

He lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed driving in the mountains, looking at the wonderful scenery. Once I went with him to Colorado to ski. He was good. I was terrible.

He loved to laugh and enjoyed his family. He loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. It hurts to know I'll not hear that voice again.

He taught me that if you want to do something, don't hold back. If you think the view is better on the other side of the mountain, go over there and see. He took flying lessons and earned a pilot's license. For a number of years he enjoyed flying.

If the weather report says you can't get from Denver to Snow Mass by plane, rent a car and drive through a blizzard but go on. He never felt there was anything he couldn't do if he thought about it, planned it and worked on it. I could write a book on this man. But I'll wait and do that later. Tonight he sleeps in the arms of angels.