FROM THORNS COME ROSES

This has become a difficult holiday season like none other I've experienced. The bottom line is probably because of my age, life is handing me thorns and roses. Let me explain.

I have encountered a number of obituaries in our local paper of friends, classmates, and business associates. Of course it is always sad but when they appear at holiday time it seems much harder to deal with. And at my age it makes one face reality head on. It is difficult for me to get to funerals so I welcome and embrace our paper's Legacy program. I appreciate the Guest Books. I can enter my thoughts and sympathy to the family and not feel so guilty about not attending the funeral. Many times older folks just put in a notice, have no funeral, but plan on a memorial service at a later date.

From these "thorns" come roses. I appreciate reading all of the entries. Most, I do not know, but they provide further in site to the person I've known. So often I have lost track with a friend and I am able to learn so much more about his or her life since we lost contact. I would not learn all of this otherwise. My heart is warmed by how much my friend accomplished in a lifetime or how many lives he or she touched and in what way. It makes me feel closer and completes the circle of that friendship. It underlines my thoughts and memories. I am able to have a much broader picture of my friend.

More roses come from messages from the family or spouse thanking me for signing the Guest Book and adding my own personal thoughts. It makes them happy to learn things they might not have known. It provides support in their saddest hours and as the days and weeks go on, they are able to look back at a life they were part of and find peace in words of comfort from those that have written.

Other wonderful things come from these entries too. I have received requests for more information to share with children so they can carry on the family memories and ensure their children will have a picture of a grandparent, aunt, or uncle. I am so happy to share my memories of the friend or classmate that other family members may not know. It's a different kind of family tree and one I'm always glad to contribute to.

Lastly, there are messages from others that read your entry, not related to the family, but knew you years ago. I have been so pleasantly surprised to hear from individuals that I knew years ago. Sometimes they share their web sites. Sometimes they want to know what I've been doing with my life. They were not necessarily close friends. But it doesn't matter because these folks help complete your life.

It also makes me so sad that I have friends that refuse to use a computer. Yes, they can complicate your life if you let them. But they can also turn thorns into roses and enrich your life in so many ways as well as bringing you full circle. So, this holiday season has brought much sadness to my life, but it has brought me a huge bouquet of roses to enjoy and cherish and make this Christmas a very special time of my life.