it is a thin line
April 25, 2008 by Chris | permalink
the sound of the first shovelful of dirt landing on the coffin lid will echo in my mind for a long time. the california sun was reflecting off of the sheen of perspiration of the black clad gathering. it was quiet. except for that unique tone of a blade penetrating soil. again and again. the immediate family, friends and extended family of colleagues each took their turn. the rabbit told us that we should think of this as putting a final blanket over him, like we do over our loved ones to keep them warm.
it should be our destiny to conduct the rituals of passage thru death for our parents. it hurt to see his parents their daughter-in-law and three small grandchildren forced to bring that moment forward. he was such a good guy. a mensch.
i landed at SFO after and short stay in cincinnati. the blackberry nearly fell out of my numb fingers as my brain processed the email which told me that Jonathan Markowitz had been killed in an automobile accident on sunday. i was sure that this fun-loving husband, and father of three, leader of our seattle office, could not be gone. and yet, it was true.
it is but a very thin line that holds us to this world. his snapped. it makes me think, again, of the priorities that each of us have. reminded me of the promises i made laying on my back 18 months ago wondering if i would see another day. i had that option. he did not. i was here for a conference on eco cities. fate brought me here today for a different reason.
the service was held in berkeley. the main room filled. they had to open the back wall to extend the space so that all the mourners could have room to sit. the hardest part was to watch his father come forward to make a reading. as a father, i could only begin to imagine the incredible pain that he must have felt. he spoke clearly in a measured voice of the need to acknowledge loss and to move on.
it was a beautiful california day.
one which he would have loved to have enjoyed.
