Long Dash

I often talk about the dash between the date of birth and the date of a person's death on gravestones when I do committal services. We have little of no choice over the dates, but we have multiple choices within the dash. It is where we live, love, laugh, and lift others.

My friend, Jim from the funeral home likes this a lot. This morning in the first of two services today, he walked me over to a marker and, pointing, he said, "This guy tried to cheat."

I looked down and saw the longest dash I have ever seen.

I was getting ready to lead the family to remember a 91 years old woman and preparing for a similar event in the afternoon for a 48 year old man.

Both had a sense of fullness and completion of life. Both were living when they died.

That is more important than the length of the dash.

I'd write more about this, but I have t make a mad dash to the funeral home. The next one starts at 2 PM.