My friend Gary died this morning far away surrounded by his dogs, family, his wife. He had a brain tumor which was diagnosed last Thanksgiving and which finally took him away I did not get to speak to him, as I feared, after his diagnosis. I have written a lot about grieving, on the new “Open Group For Bedlam Farm,” I keep saying my sites are not grieving, they are about life, not death, gain not loss, tomorrow, not yesterday. So here, a chance to practice what I preach.

Gary was that rarest of men, he was all about love. I walked the dogs this morning to think about him, and I did not cry for Gary, I smiled every time I thought of him. He lived a full and rich and meaningful life. His love for animals and people was profound and spiritual. I think there will be celebrations in paradise today, for a great cloud of love and light has arrived there, and the spirits and animals and people in the other world are already laughing, I think, eating good food, hearing great and funny stories of life and love. There is nothing to be sad about when I think of Gary’s life, even his passing was beautiful. When I was a teenager I went to Quaker Meeting, and the Quakers took me in and taught me some beautiful things, including this: when someone dies, it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their life, not to simply mourn their passing. Death is our common experience, the universal destination. It is as much a part of life as breating.

So I will celebrate Gary’s life and I think there will be celebrations in paradise for a good long, a great story-teller has arrived,  blissful souls dancing and laughing through eternity, welcoming Gary and his life. And I will make good use of every minute remaining of my mine.