As you may (or may not) have noticed, I have recently mentioned a friend who has been battling liver cancer.

This morning... on what we have been calling *"Palindrome Day"* *(because 02022020 reads the same forwards and backwards)* Mrs. Denmarkguy and I were enjoying our coffee on the back porch, when a little white feather came drifting down from above, moving gently on the breeze.

![0828-Maple.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZPEtMbYyoYVhUeTVV7sPb17SaYxsFUBHCpdxYkMFwtr3/0828-Maple.jpg)
*Leaves in the sun...*

*"I think that was a message that R. has left us..."* Mrs. Denmarkguy quietly said, even though the prognosis was that she would have about another month. 

Mrs. Denmarkguy is *psychic.* Not in that carnival, side show fortune teller way... but in having an uncanny ability to simply *"know"* when things are happening... *before* they happen.

Ten minutes later, we had a text massage from a friend *(who's a hospice nurse at the hospital)* that our friend had, indeed, passed away about an hour earlier.

![0854-Fleurs.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQzidw89KHCiGYg2Ek7e4XLHqREY58FRL7dvv2XBqqboC/0854-Fleurs.jpg)
*Flowers in the sun...*

## *"Let the Dead Bury the Dead"*

Of course we were saddened by the news, but we were also happy the learn that the final time of suffering was over, for our friend.

It's easy to slide into brooding and depressions, rather than remember — and *celebrate* — the joyful life that was, and the joyful moments we shared with someone who has passed on. Fact is — if they were truly our dear friend — that the *positive* memories are likely to outweigh the *negative* ones by a factor of 10-to-1 or more.

And when someone near to us dies? We are not really grieving for *them,* so much as we are grieving for *ourselves,* for the "hole" that seems to have appeared in our lives. 

Our friend was one of the most patient, friendly and helpful people you could possibly imagine... and she will be missed. But she will also be remembered, and *celebrated.* And I doubt very much that she'd want us all to sit around and be mopey for a long time.

![0953-PinkCherry.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcTwdTQmhtpA2pjbQfc9oiC5La72JJH3G1SAoenMrF4Ce/0953-PinkCherry.jpg)
*Cherry blossoms...*

## *Life is a Fragile Thing*

We often hear it said that *"Life is a fragile thing, enjoy it while you can!"*

These are wise words, but let us also remember that we should enjoy whatever life we have *on our own terms,* and *not* according to *other people's* expectations.

And that is, perhaps, what we will remember most about our friend... that she chose her own life, and lived her own way... and persevered, in spite of often being told *"You can't DO that!!"*

Why... *sure* you can...

As I write these words, I am also reminded of one of Steemlandia's own long-time evangelists **@onceuponatime** who's also on the verge of departing this plane, if he has not already. You [can read the tribute](https://steemit.com/bitshares/@stan/tribute-to-paul-onceuponatime-martello) by **@stan** if you're interested...

My point here, though, was that Paul was also someone who lived life on his own terms... and he was one of the first people who greeted me, when I landed here. He, too, will be missed... but he should also be *celebrated.*

Meanwhile... I'm still pondering that little white feather, drifting down from the sky... coincidence? Sunchronicity? Or a cosmic farewell message?

Thanks for reading!

*(Another **#creativecoin** creative non-fiction post)*

***Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!***

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*(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for this platform.)
Created at 20200202 19:38 PST*
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