Image Up Advertising & Design

FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2016 15 For many years, that incident haunted me. It was so subtle, and the thought was so insidious. My mind was always preoccupied with the idea of death. It was something I could not understand, had no control over, and feared greatly. For years, it made me so unhappy; and particularly at each New Year. In 1965, my father became very ill. He was a joyful man who loved to play games with us and dance to Bobby Blue Bland's "Don't Cry No More." I always looked forward to his coming home at night because we would stay up late while he taught us a new math brainteaser. My father was once a big man until cancer invaded his body. I remember how sad I was when he told me that he had been sent home from the hospital to die. During his illness, my sister became pregnant. It was another New Year's Eve. Could this become another Miss Netta moment? My father's condition had become increasingly worse and my sister began to have labor pains. We took our sister to the hospital then returned home. At that time, no one was allowed inside the delivery room other than the medical staff so there was nothing to do at the hospital. The normal routine was to call the maternity ward to see if the baby had been born. At home, we rejoined our mother as she cared for my father. Suddenly, my father's condition grew worse and we had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital. We followed the ambulance in the family car. Shortly after midnight, my father passed away. Immediately, we called upstairs in the hospital and learned that my sister had just given birth to a baby girl. We were hurt and sad; yet, ecstatically joyful. I experienced pain and needed a healing. Our niece was an absolutely beautiful baby, and her birth helped to drown the sorrow of losing my father. As we prepared for his funeral, we were thrilled at the gift of the new baby. My father would have loved her. That incident brought me face to face with life and death. I learned that everything and everyone will change. I learned that in every death, there is life. In every ending, there is a new beginning. In sadness there is joy; somewhere deep within, waiting to rise, thrive and start a new life cycle. I learned that fear must be overcome if life is to be a pleasant journey. I learned to seek knowledge and wisdom about the things in life that confuse you, or cause discomfort, distress, and unhappiness. I learned that we have within us the power to overcome all adversity and that we can overcome if our desire to do so is great enough. I learned how important it is to help others, especially young people, understand loss because it is painful to not be able to share deep fearful emotions. I learned to make every moment and every day with others meaningful, enjoyable, and lovable. I learned to live. continued from previous page

• Cover