[Ray.]

My turn today. As some of you may remember, my mother passed away in early November. She'd had a few close calls with death over the last decade or so, but there's only so many fights you can win. She was 72 and on account of her ill-health over the past 7-8 years, I'd been mentally preparing myself for the day she'd die. But of course, you never wake up thinking today's going to be the day. And whatever level of mental preparation you do isn't ever quite enough to shield you from the initial pain. Her passing so close to Christmas, you might think there's not much I can be thankful for. But there are a few things. Chief among them, I'm thankful it was quick, and I'm thankful she was with the people she loved most, and who loved her the most. I shall leave you all with a poem I found while looking among a stack of them that the celebrant provided us with. I didn't end up using it for the funeral as there was another poem that felt was more applicable and that my father needed to hear (he's had a tougher time accepting my mother's death, and so I chose one of those you are stronger than you think-type pieces to be read out), but if there's any lesson to be taken from the passing of a loved one, this is that lesson:

She Is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

And so my Christmas message is that I hope we're all reunited with the ones we love in the next life or at the end of time or whenever. I've been uncharacteristically sappy enough with this message, so I won't go overboard and pick an equally sappy Christmas song. Here's the joyously twisted Making Christmas from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

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