Healing Community

There are small silver linings in most tragedies. Because I write this blog I am often an early “alerter” on things. Such was the case in the passing of my friend Hugh. His official obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer took a few days, and it was beautiful and worth the wait. You a read it here.https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/hugh-braithwaite-obituary-communications-philadelphia-marketing-20240305.html

In the absence of that professional announcement many friends read my blog and I have heard from so many people far and wide. One theme that everyone shared is the desire, no need, to stay in closer touch or reconnect or to get to know each other more deeply.

Certainly the early passing of someone so vibrant shakes us all up. I so appreciate the messages I have gotten and I am someone on the outer rings of this tragedy. When things like this happen we just want to talk with someone about it and we are often at a loss about who to do that with.

I remember when Elvis died, my mother had some friends call her to give condolences, not because my mother knew or even loved Elvis, but just because she was from Tennessee and they couldn’t think of anyone else to call.

I had a close friend call me today just to say they loved me and wanted me to know how important to them I am. This is someone who didn’t even know Hugh, but reading about his loss precipitated this outpouring of love.

Lord knows in the world today we all need to love on each other a lot more. We need to stop being divided over politics. We need to care for each other and tell people how much they mean to us.

I have lost two very dear and very long time friends in the last two years. I am running out of time to make new lifelong friends. I want to keep the ones I have.

I also don’t want to write any more blogs about losing friends. (Please stop asking me to pre-write your obituaries, as a few of you have done.)

For now, I love hearing from you. Sharing the stories is healing. Laughter is my bandaid on a bruised heart. You are my healing community.