The Ripples Will Go On Forever

by Judy Rainey

Complimentary article, Strange Ripples, by Ned Balzer

Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001

It's been many months since I've written on this list but Ned Balzer's note really
touched me. I had a similar experience about a year ago.

Out of the blue I received a letter from a woman I went to high school with.
I knew who she was but we were never close friends and I hadn't talked to
her in 15 years. She said in her letter that she had attended the funeral
of our son, Joe, four years ago (I don't remember seeing her, but I don't
remember half of the people who were there). At the funeral she was
devastated and said she couldn't imagine being able to survive that kind of
loss. She then went on to say that her 16 year old son had just died in a
car accident. She said she believed that the loss of my son helped her
prepare for the loss of hers. It was a very powerful reminder of how much
one tiny child can affect many many lives.

We'll probably never know how many lives are touched by our losses. The
ripples will go on forever.

Judy Rainey