“Love Has Made Grief Absurd” (With Lily Rich)

I had the pleasure of first meeting Gloria about two years ago. She was always gracious and always had something nice to say to me. She was a light. Robert and I often discussed the title of his work, “Love Has Made Grief Absurd.” It’s an interesting title because grief and love are inextricably linked. One cannot exist without the other. It does seem absurd that to love we must know grief, even if it is just at the thought of losing the one we love. And to experience grief we must have loved. When I work with those who are in mourning, I describe grief as a river that flows through us. Sometimes it wells up, sometimes it trickles down. Sometimes it feels like a class five rapid. But at the center of that river is love. If we can learn to let that river flow without judgment we might find ourselves laughing with tears in our eyes experiencing the absurdity in all its beauty. Gloria died surrounded by love. My condolences go out to all of those loving hearts that are now grieveing. I hope you can find peace within the river.

Gently, gently down the stream,

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