I haven’t seen someone’s death in five years. Before that one it wasn’t a close relative. As I got older they were regularly scheduled deaths we know were coming because of old age.
The new year is coming up so I thought about the people that could have been with me. Normally I just journal these types of moments and feelings that come up, but I felt so grateful being with my close ones.
Death Is Poetic
My cousins aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed about a year after. My family saw her a lot because she worked at our local grocery store so our family was invited to the funeral. I was in jr. high when it happened, so I was given the option to attend.
All the rap songs I listened too would talk about how they were going to funerals at a young age. Obviously I was curious and said yes, but to this day I wonder.
Rap makes death sound so poetic (so it sounded), “I attended my OG’s funeral at 10 when he was 17”. I heard Tupac died at 23, and I though it was poetic (at the moment).
Death Is Natural
I thought I was ready to attend a funeral. I wasn’t ready to understand it was a natural part of the process.
Unfortunately, shortly after my first funeral I discovered it was a natural part of the process of people reaching their end.
These things just happened, but the worst is when it’s unexpected. At a young age I figured out how I can be grateful for the moments.