What ‘moved’ you today?

Posted on by Live & Learn

Short story.

How did we get here with this random, mid-day post.

Ray, a fellow wordpress blogger, who must be beyond fatigued with my photo hobby posts across social media and my incessant sharing of book passages and quotes, said “ENOUGH already” and asked for a story.  And when Ray demands, I move.

So, I’m giving him one.  And it aligns with the spirt of this blog — if it moves me, it goes up.

My youngest Brother recently passed away.  I am the Personal Representative of his Estate. It has been a journey in this COVID-19 environment to settle his affairs, and we’re far from done. Let’s leave this at that.

I’m sitting in a bank branch this morning waiting to get help. I’m holding my smartphone in my hand, and a file folder with my Brother’s paperwork on my lap.

And I’m waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting.

My Gear is on. (Face mask fully covering nose and mouth.)

I’m looking down and paging through screen after screen after screen after screen on my smartphone.

Twitter, Tumblr, work emails, FB, WP, LinkedIn.

And I get vertigo. Eye strain. Mask inhibiting breathing. Feeling woozy. 

Normal functioning Humans make adjustments.

I keep flipping through web pages. And flipping, and flipping.

Wooziness doesn’t let up.

I come to a post on LinkedIn. And stop.

I read the post again.

And as Sawsan would say. “No, I’m not crying.” Not here. Not now.

Air under the mask is getting thin.

Eyes well up.

My glasses fog up, the face mask pushing air straight up.

And just at that moment: “Sir, I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I’m ready for you now.”

I can’t lift my head.

Glasses are fogged up. Floor is spinning.

She sees I’m struggling.

Sir, let me give you a moment: “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

I thank her, and take a moment to gain my composure, and then walk into her office.

Here was the LinkedIn story.

38 thoughts on “What ‘moved’ you today?”

  2. Awwww DK
    Not crying! I’m not!

    Thank you for this light, tears, filled glimpse into your beautiful day.

  6. As a teenager, I used to be embarrassed that my father was a stupid farmer. Them as an adult I realized that farmers were the backbone of the country and that he was the smartest man I would ever know. xo

  9. The loss of your brother is a tough one for you. Know that you have the support of many.

    AOC says it best. “There is everything dignified about being a working person.”

  17. Hi!! Good day … I just read this today, this morning! I’m so sorry for your loss. Thinking about your brother and you family!! May he rest in peace. From the heart … <3 …

  18. Work is work. You can touch people’s lives no matter what your job is. Sometimes just making them feel seen is a start.

  19. ….I cried. Nothing could be expressed more than this dear David, into the words, between lines, between letters, there are all stories/all life and you and your brother… feelings like a tears, sad or happy but so humanly find me too. I don’t know what I am saying now but I know my heart tries to talk with my amazing language. my thoughts are with you and yours. Thank you, Love, nia

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