Goodbyes have never been easy for me
I don’t want relationships that bring joy to come to an end
I always want to have the opportunity for a future meeting     
A see you later – not a goodbye
It is fun to quote Shakespeare by asking,    
“When shall we three meet again?  In thunder, lightning, or in rain?”
and expect the response,   
“When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle is lost and won”     
“That will be ere the set of sun.         
Where the place? Upon the heath, there to meet with, Macbeeeeth!”  

I don’t like it when there is no next time or see you later
I have walked the journey to the end of life with those I love
I kept saying to myself that it’s going to be okay
We can do this.
And we did  

I now find myself as a companion
to those just beginning their journeys to a final goodbye
I encourage them to take each day as it comes
I advise them to choose  to do one thing that will bring joy to their day
And to do their best to do that thing – as simple as it may be –
Savor a cup of coffee, listen to music played on the piano – hold hands
Speak words of love and laugh at goofy things people say and do
It sounds so easy,  but it’s not that easy to do  

The journey to goodbye is filled with anticipatory grief
It’s like watching a movie while knowing how it ends
Knowing there is a final goodbye ahead
I begin to cry in the middle of the movie
Even through the happy parts  – because
Life is precious, every moment becomes precious
Moments are no longer ordinary    
They are holy 
Everything is going to be okay
When the time comes to say goodbye
We are not walking in a dark, lonesome valley
We have companions who care
We are not alone 
It’s going to be okay –  
We can do this
And we will