Andrea, this touched me on so many levels. Sitting as close as I am to the exit, I was struck more by what I’ve likely withheld from family, from friends, from those who have crossed paths with me. I’m wondering why I’ve done that. What is it about who I am that demands that sort of censorship?

I’ve endured and enjoyed some of the same experiences you shared. I’m at that age when funerals and memorials occur more often than birthdays and anniversaries. I’ve wrestled with those fleeting thoughts, heard others described in ways that surprised me. My loss.

I wish I could tell you that you’ve helped me better understand the nature of relationships and how they might be so much more than they typically are. But that’s okay.

In the absence of answers, what a delight it is to discover the right questions.