Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Dear Deanna, Dear John, and Dear John Jr.
Never did we think that we would need to search for words of comfort for the loss of Kristin. We hope this poem says what we feel, that Kris was a bright light and would have wanted us to think of her that way still.
With love from Bart, Eva and the Fried family, some of whom knew Kristin from the time she was born.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
