Life Cut Short

Our culture is a bit morbid for my taste. We like to slow down at car wrecks to see the devastation and that stories that will carry the most air time tonight at 11 will be those about death, destruction and loss. We think of Poe as being dark and a bit insane - but he is an excellent reflection of modern day American - at least some days.

Maurie and I are back from a visitation. This is not a word I use each day and I am unsure of its meaning. However, I can guess from context, that it means to stand in a long line, with people you don't know, to talk to the family of someone who has just died. After this most awkward of conversations, you typically view the now lifeless body of a person you knew as a living, laughing, eating, drinking and otherwise spirited human.

Mrs. Kappa's body was not there tonight - at least not where we could see it, and I was as delighted as I could be by this fact. Too many times I have had to look at what I hoped we be the person I knew, only to find that it was not what I remembered. I had not seen Mrs. Kappa for many years - since highschool, and I was content to recall her smile and her walk from my days in her Art classes.

Mike looked good, but Maurie thought he was playing it tough. How is one to act is such a situation? Lots of guys were there from the Department - Mike is a retired District Chief and not consults. And I recognized several from Oak Hills - though I talked with no one. We were quick to be seen and quicker to leave. Maurie was not holding up well and I was not terribly comfortable. For the ride home we talked about our funerals and what we want said and done. Not many decisions were made.

Some of her paintings we displayed at the funeral home. It was a nice touch. She was young - just 54 and talented. She was my teacher and though I hated High School, Art class was a retreat. Mrs. Kappa was a wonderful teacher and those who never got to sit in her class missed out.

I pray she has access to paint brushes.