Foot prints

My grandmother passed away in her sleep yesterday after over 90 years of blasting through life with passion, generosity and unbounded love. She supported every interest I had (buying my first piano and saying bravo loudly...if...and only if I had finally reached my goal and played it well). That's the kind of encouragement you need. The same goes with my studies, sports, love for travel and my intellectual interests. She was cheap with the little things and price didn't matter for the big important ones. This was an example of her every day ying-yang that everyone loved. I owe my confidence in myself, my incapacity to take shit from anyone and my analytical mind from her...as well as my inability to sit around and waste time...manifesting most in my unending love of exploring the world.

She was barely religious...and was in it only for the songs...which she taught me. She barely went to church for the last 25 years of her life and came to be incredibly open minded about nearly everything. She didn't care in the least that I was an atheist. It's a moment like this that you are tested with your resolve...that there is no reason to believe in an after life. I know that eventually her ashes will fly in the wind and circle the earth a dozen times and land here and there and everywhere...and will become part of oceans, creatures, green things and peaceful dessert and tundra. A few will even escape into outer space and for the distant future...who knows. In a sense...each grain of ash will start a chain reaction in a million places that will come to directly and indirectly effect nearly everything...which will not fail to continue for eons and eons. More importantly...her values, fierceness, joy of life and generosity will live on in those who took lessons from her...without a doubt with I and the people I influence and so on. These will also pass on through generations as long as people pass on their values. I have no reason to believe this influence will dilute over time to such a point where her way of living life doesn't somehow effect others...even centuries from now...even in the smallest way. This is the afterlife...her unconscious footprints. That gives me all the peace I need.

3 members like this

Comment by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on November 24, 2015 at 4:53pm: Very nicely articulated Davis. I recall a line from a gardener in a very well maintained garden in a large estate that he often said to visitors;

“I hope you enjoy your walk. Please take as many memories with you as you can and leave only your footprints behind”. I reckon plenty of good memories are springing into life for you and will become more vivid as time passes. That is what brings peace. Not much else is needed.

Comment by Simon Paynton on November 24, 2015 at 4:53pm: Sorry for your loss, Davis.

Comment by TJ on November 24, 2015 at 7:04pm: I am sorry for your loss. People like that leave a big hole when they pass. I'm glad you got to know her.

Comment by Davis Goodman on November 24, 2015 at 8:17pm: Sweet words. Thanks

Comment by _Robert_ on November 25, 2015 at 9:15am: Beautiful homage Davis.

My grandmother who is long gone, told me that when she was 8 she went to a birthday party. Every kid at that party (except for her) died of polio. She said that she survived it because her father rigged up some sort of electrical shock therapy device that kept her muscles alive for years as she slowly recovered. He never gave up on her. They live on in us, we are their "heaven",

Comment by Davis Goodman on November 26, 2015 at 6:19pm: We are their heaven

Thanks Robert.

Comment by Belle Rose on November 27, 2015 at 1:59am: "It is the love, encouragement, never-ending support, and unconditional acceptance that you have shown me that has made me who I am today. It is in that way that you are a part of me forever. Every person that I meet in my life will be touched for the better by you because you have become part of the best part of me. So even after the day you rest forever you will live on through me. This is what it means to be eternal. My eternal love. And I love you until I take my last breath."

Comment by Strega on November 27, 2015 at 4:59am: I'm so sorry Davis. I have to say that was a beautiful eulogy. i wish I'd met her, but in a way I have, as she was so fundamental in shaping your nature. I love that comment of Roberts too. We are their heaven. I like that a lot.