All you holy men and women.

My second cousin is dying at home with hospice care. She’s dying because of cancer. I don’t even know her very much. Actually, I don’t really know her at all! I thought we were Facebook friends, but I figured out the other day that I had assumed we were FB friends because we had all these FB friends in common — other cousins! So she was showing up in my "feed" but only because of our connections through other cousins! Last time I saw Karen was at Uncle John's 100th birthday party in 2008. It's not surprising that I didn't know her better, given her younger age and geography! 

Still, I feel the need to call her out to the universe because I know that people I know, love, and respect are hurting. I know how much they love her. Because of them, one thing I do know about her is that she is loved by many and that tells me that I missed out on knowing a pretty fantastic person. I knew she was adventurous because of things I’ve seen on Facebook. I knew she was a hard working USPS employee. I didn’t know how much she did to help her fellow postal workers especially through her work for their union, but I know that now. 

In a way, it didn’t make sense that I would feel so sad about her dying. But I’m starting to understand a little about how others in the family felt when my sister died in 2001. And of course, knowing someone so young is dying brings back so much of that grief about Sue’s death. That’s a pretty powerful reaction. I guess that's not surprising either.

I’m calling on all my family womenfolk. You know what to do. 

I know you’re all sitting around a picnic table 

or hanging out in Aunt Kay’s Chicago backyard (unless she’s in her basement, hiding out from a thunderstorm), 

or maybe at Aunt Ann’s, or Aunt Bea’s, or Aunt Peg's — so many possibilities. 

I understand that it’s really us who need your help, but first attend to Karen. 
She’s on her way. Carry her home.

"All you holy men and women, pray for us."