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During this time of pandemic, my siblings and I have been meeting via ZOOM. I am grateful for the platform, which allows us to both see and hear each other in real time. I sheepishly admit I may know more of their lives than I did before COVID-19 affected us in such a profound way. Fortunately, we are all alive and reasonably well and it is good to be able to interact with them, learning of their respective families and ailments which, in the big scheme of things, seem relatively trivial.
Almost all of us have exceeded the years our parents were granted. One brother’s birthday is today. I am grateful he is still with us. His wife and one brother-in-law have sadly passed.
Death seems part of the cycle of life. As songwriter Paul Simon wrote, leaves that were green turn to brown.
In the time of King David, close to 3 millennia ago, lifespan was, on average, 70 years. Despite much progress, including discovery of the human genome, it hasn’t changed much since. Perhaps that is intentional.
All of my siblings subscribe to a certain brand of Protestant Christianity. I have little doubt as to their sincerity and seriousness of purpose. Some seem devout, some fervent. Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, we are all somewhat different.
