Roads

Roads. They all start somewhere, don't they?  Roads begin at birth and end at death. 
We all start from the same place and eventually, no matter what twists and turns that are made in the road, we end at the same place. 
Sometimes we hit a pothole. Sometimes the road makes a sharp turn, one the walker cannot foresee. 
Other times, we collide with someone else's road and begin to walk alongside them. 
When that happens, sometimes we forget that people are paving their own way through life so when someone leaves, we feel lost.

'Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.'
- Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit. 

I find this short passage embodies it wonderfully. 
I like it's portrayal how life, or 'The Road', will go on and on forever but when 'wandering feet' are weary of walking, they will 'turn at last to home afar.' 

I had an email from a family member earlier; he has mentioned that he views this blog so I will omit names to retain his privacy. 
The email was brief but he mentioned the anniversary of his wife's death - 12 years to this day. 
The email mentioned how he bought some daffodil bulbs and planted them - before mentioning how, even though this month in particular is hard for him, that he carries on 'walking his road' even though she is not here anymore, because he knows it's what she would have wanted. 
Something so simple yet so loving, even in the face of her death. 
I feel very proud to be related to this man. 
To carry on, even though the road is fraught with obstacles and potholes, is an admirable feat. 
I dedicate this post to this family member and I know that, even though his wife is no longer walking beside him, when it comes for him to turn to home afar, he will find her again, under cloud and under star.