Life and death and all that's in between

I saw life at its pinnacle one day at the park, as sun streaked down from the sky between trees, glinting off the water of the lake that flows through it. Old men and women and teenagers and moms and dads and tots walked and bicycled and chased after jubilant dogs. The world was alive.

I saw death and felt the pain of it course through me and flow out of me via torrents of tears. A beloved mentor, friend, hero passed away, kissing cancer goodbye.

I reunited with some of the people who mean the most to me and simultaneously fostered new friendships.

To feel better, to feel normal, to take charge, I baked chocolate chip cookies, ran until my legs felt like rubber and sang at the top of my lungs.