"Grief"

I was reminded of the familiar quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”  All who know Mr. Mucus, know he has a love of life.  He approaches all things with zest and excitement.  As if that very minute was the greatest time of his life.  But it was a much subdued and quite Mr. Mucus that approached.  With bowed head and faint voice he said, “Mr. Brandon, did you hear the news?”  Having shared in the lives of my riders over the years, I prepared to listen.  Because of the tone of voice, I prepared for the worst, already feeling a heaviness in my own heart.  “Did you hear, they are closing the Ryan’s restaurant in town? My father told me about it last night.”  I gathered myself and in an equally hushed tone I said “I know, I heard that too.  What are you going to do?” Then as he spoke you could hear a small quiver in his voice, “I don’t know,” there was a pause to gain control of his emotions, “I have to admit when my father told me, I cried a little bit.  I had a hard time concentrating on my homework after that.  So last night we went to Golden Corral and ate.  As we were eating my father looked across the table at me and said, “It’s just not the same.”  Then with feet and heart that seemed too heavy to lift, he moved silently back to his seat.  True love, great are the rewards, deep are the sorrows.