I'm still thinking about the man we ran into on the trail on Sunday. We went for a late in the day walk which we often do on Sundays since our church meetings are at 9. That means that we've no time for a walk in the early morning cooler hours which is our preference.
Haven't seen him before. He stopped us to ask if we knew the name of a particular plant. (I used my handy plant identifier to tell him, and mentioned that I think it's an ugly noxious weed.) We just sort of walked along with him, he wanted to talk.
During the conversation it came out that he's a widower of two months - after 52 years of marriage. His wife (who he took care of for 20 years prior because of her serious health issues, treatment of which left her blind) got COVID and didn't survive it. And he said: the worst of it is I gave her COVID. I sensed a measure of guilt amongst the heartbreak and mourning. I wanted so badly to calm that emotion.
It's been tough to get him off my mind. Including all the results of being alone in the world. I doubt that is ever something one chooses. There's no way to minimize the burden or ease the situation. One has to simply forge ahead, one minute at a time.
I hope we see him again. I want him to know he's not forgotten.
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