One hundred of us stand or sit. Tables with water, breezes bringing Coolness to our sweat drained bodies. Our attention focuses as one man’s life captures our imagination. Memories of kindness, cello, trees, choir, painting. Our hearts hear the message, feel the pull to not leave this earth without living. Create while we birth, work, love. Long time friends, spouse, children, family saying goodbye to one who has left his mark in all who stand at his earthen home. My gaze moves to all that surrounds me, cool, calm water, lilies, phlox blooming in this late July heat. Soil dried from lack of rain; flowers laced when placed at his side; ashes leaning toward earth. A haze of smoke from distant wildfires fills our nostrils. We laugh, we celebrate, we feel gratitude in our current moment of living. We ponder death and share from this truth. In loss we feel love. In dryness we experience moisture. In memory we experience renewed spirit. In death we are pulled to the living.