Mom's funeral was today.

It's been quite a day, all in all. I know that's cliché, “all in all,” but what the hell, my Mom's funeral was today. Sometimes living your life is more important than living by rules.

This has been among those times. Aunt Laura and I are closer than ever before. Even Gene, and we've been pretty close already—on a sort of living–life–at–the–level that genuine people who need to relate to each other do. And that's most of us. When we're lucky. Or aware.

We move through life, each in her own way. We hold on and we remember past, or we look to future, and create what is best. We hold tight suffering or let it go and breathe in life. Maybe sometimes we don't get it until the very end. But all we need is to get it. And you instantly know you've had it all along.

And you said you'd never been so happy in all your life.

Robb Heckel. Manirado Springs: December 23, 2008.

And I was there.

And I cry.

And I am connecting with spirit—with all that is,

And I am outside my self, feeling and touching my family, my best friends—the people you know and can count on.