I'm so sorry....

I would have stayed. If only to just be there. I don't know you but your stories of Tyler have touched me.

As a close friend told me when my father died - keep on keepin' on.

:)

Hugs...from an old gypsy woman

Let me draw you into my arms and cradle you as you cradled Tyler and his family.

What wonderful people these people are!

I know why you were moved to tears.

Hugs...from an old gypsy woman

you are so brave to share what it's really like to grieve. i felt like the whole world just kept spinning and took absolutely no notice of my shaky hands and red eyes. it wasn't fair that the sun shone and the birds sang and people were laughing and ordering coffee and deciding to turn left or right as i was standing there feet frozen in cement trying to pick up the shattered bits of my heart. it was like i was trapped in this bubble of past memories and an unrealized future and how could the world keep spinning? but it did and i kept breathing and slowly with trembling steps i walked forward and lifted my head and suddenly i saw the trees again growing and shedding their leaves and i watched the sun set and rise and set and rise and i felt a bit closer to the cycling of it all. as i shared my pain and my sorrow, i shed a layer and i emerged again from the darkness. many of us have walked and are walking the path of grief and goodbyes and unanswered questions. as we breathe out pain we can breathe in new life, we can hope and pray that some light will break through the darkness. no you are not alone... you are very connected at this moment to all of the tender souls who are aching, breathing, crawling and resting. you are intrically connected to the family in the ever widening circle of creation. peace and comfort to you tonight that the gods and angels may cradle you close and keep you safe

Through you I feel as though I know this little boy, and for some reason I am feeling the same seperation anxiety as you are. I can't pretend to know exactly what you're feeling Trevor, I just wanted you to know that even over cyber space, your stories (and Tyler's) are changing lives. Namely mine. Thanks to both of you brave, thoughtful men.

i feel your grief. sometimes it is so worth staying attached to one´s very own emmotions despite disattachment from those who happen to be around.
thanks, for making Tylor special to us, too.

Oh, if only you'd been flying out from Denver on Wednesday morning instead. Then we could have cried together. Good-byes are so hard. Thank you for your beautiful drawings and words. They always help to soften my heart.

Trevor,
So sorry you were grieving alone....People get frightened of grief and, I think, its open, healthy expression. Many people missed an opportunity to connect with a really great human being.
Lindsay

Big huge hugs coming your way.

Prior to reading this, while I don't think I would have moved away, I would have been uncomfortable. But now, maybe you have changed that, maybe in the future, if ever in such a circumstance, maybe I will reach out to try and comfort another human being.

That day you were overcome by many feelings, you left a lasting impression - either negative or positive - on all those that were around you. They'll not forget the man who openly wept. I also believe they will not forget the way they responded or did not respond in this case. Even though they were uncomfortable - for whatever reasons - I would like to imagine that some of them did care. Perhaps they were fearful of intruding or approaching and perhaps even, they were fearful of being turned away if they did reach out. I can honestly say I have responded in fear - by distancing myself and I can also share, that more often than not, I respond in kind and loving ways. It saddens me, when I become so focused on my own comfort that I disregard the discomfort of others.
It takes a grand bit of courage to reach out to others. It takes an incredible amount of courage to share emotion openly such as you did. I would imagine, when around those we do not know - even when overcome by emotion - most of us stifle those feelings vs. letting them out.
I am glad you shared this exchange between you and those strangers around you, for it encourages me to keep reaching out, despite my own fears of butting in or being pushed away. If I were in the same situation, I would have appreciated a soft voice, 'are you ok?' or a warm comforting hand to hold... that's all, nothing more. The more I open myself up to helping others, [as well as receiving] the easier it becomes to respond positively the next time I am faced with the same situation.
I believe it takes a lot of courage to hold the hand of a stranger when it is offered, as much courage as it takes the stranger to offer his hand.

In the future, when you find yourself overwhelmed and in strange places - I wish you many soft voices and warm hands to hold.

~Shannon