One man shoveled for a while and then turned the tool over to someone else. It continued until the hole was filled. Rocks were placed on top...with a wooden cross at the head...and bouquets of flowers
Thank you Bill for sharing a part of your life, a part of Jose’s life and the promise made to all of us. We hope, we plan, we work, and we adjust the plans. Every plan touches other plans of our fellow travelers through life. And all of us reach the end of life.
Your recounting of his funeral and the family’s grief brought a tear to my eyes as well. He was a man worthy of tears, not just of those who loved him but those who could respect him from afar.
There are many who have come to believe that death is the end of existence. And there are those who believe it is a transition of existence to the eternal life. We are free to believe there is a larger purpose to life and embrace the faith of a loving God. And we are free to believe that death brings an end to all uncertainty.
So many of your words through the years have been the words of a man worthy of respect. And, a final thought; old men cry easier, they know the gift of days. Thanks for sharing.
Great stuff, Bill. Very few people can describe life's events better than you. We may differ on some events and certain people descriptions you write about: but, I can't imagine anyone not appreciating your gifted and elequent use of English, as an active communicator.
Doggone it, Bill. As if I didn't have enough reasons to get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes! Thank you for the poignant reminder of our collective humanity.
Death, though it casts its long shadow across every life, is not the end but the mysterious threshold each soul must one day cross. In the stillness of the grave, we meet not despair but the echo of eternity itself. As the Padre reminded us, and as the ancients believed, death is no defeat but a passage, a return to the Source from which all life springs.
Jose, strong in body and spirit, lived as men were meant to live, close to the earth, to the mountains, and to the breath of God in the wind. In his final ride beyond the ridge of this world, he reminds us all that our time here is but a fleeting stewardship, a brief tending of the fires before we rejoin the infinite. Rest in peace, Jose. You have simply gone ahead, where one day, in our own hour, we too shall ride to meet you, and greet again the light that knows no death.
I’m saddened for the occasion but - welcome back to The Place at the End. Selfishly, I have been yearning for the writings that are often offered from there. Thank you.
Thanks for the beautiful thoughts regarding the end of life. Unfortunately I can fully appreciate the emotions having very recently lost my youngest child to sudden cardiac death at the age of 35 leaving behind his pregnant wife and two young sons. It somehow helps to realize our family is not alone in its grief. Thanks for your writing.
Most things in life involve a binary choice: off or on, right or wrong, easy or difficult, seven or "snake-eyes", dead or alive... There is no rational reason to fear death; it is inevitable, but we humans are founded on and driven by emotion, giving all of us pause. Death is both a known and unknown. As Roy Rogers said, "Life is a gamble, and you don't always win." So, sometimes you throw seven, and other times, two, three, or twelve. At the craps tables, plenty of hedges are available to help the discomfort. Not so in life. But death? That's easy: it's either the end, or the beginning. And no one knows which, at least not yet. But we'll get there. The way I see it, it's the one time in my life I'm guaranteed to win. Best always. PM
My personal philosophy: Jesus said no greater love hath a man than that he would lay down his life for his friends. Each of our fellow sojourners in life who passes on before us gives us the template and shows us how it's done. We are so fortunate. One day, it will be our turn; pass it on. PM
Bill, nice story telling. My wife knows, I want to be sent off almost the same way, with friends and family filling in all the dirt, not some backhoe driven by a stranger.
This is the Bill Bonner I grew to admire and respect. More of this, please.
That was very moving, Bill. Thanks for sharing.
87 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Wk6eAZJf4rU
SE Excellent once again
Great stuff
Enjoy the prospective you add to the madness expressed sometimes here
Thank you Bill for sharing a part of your life, a part of Jose’s life and the promise made to all of us. We hope, we plan, we work, and we adjust the plans. Every plan touches other plans of our fellow travelers through life. And all of us reach the end of life.
Your recounting of his funeral and the family’s grief brought a tear to my eyes as well. He was a man worthy of tears, not just of those who loved him but those who could respect him from afar.
There are many who have come to believe that death is the end of existence. And there are those who believe it is a transition of existence to the eternal life. We are free to believe there is a larger purpose to life and embrace the faith of a loving God. And we are free to believe that death brings an end to all uncertainty.
So many of your words through the years have been the words of a man worthy of respect. And, a final thought; old men cry easier, they know the gift of days. Thanks for sharing.
Great stuff, Bill. Very few people can describe life's events better than you. We may differ on some events and certain people descriptions you write about: but, I can't imagine anyone not appreciating your gifted and elequent use of English, as an active communicator.
Doggone it, Bill. As if I didn't have enough reasons to get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes! Thank you for the poignant reminder of our collective humanity.
Thank you for sharing Bill.
Death, though it casts its long shadow across every life, is not the end but the mysterious threshold each soul must one day cross. In the stillness of the grave, we meet not despair but the echo of eternity itself. As the Padre reminded us, and as the ancients believed, death is no defeat but a passage, a return to the Source from which all life springs.
Jose, strong in body and spirit, lived as men were meant to live, close to the earth, to the mountains, and to the breath of God in the wind. In his final ride beyond the ridge of this world, he reminds us all that our time here is but a fleeting stewardship, a brief tending of the fires before we rejoin the infinite. Rest in peace, Jose. You have simply gone ahead, where one day, in our own hour, we too shall ride to meet you, and greet again the light that knows no death.
Thank you brother Egypt, very beautiful 🙏
Everybody wants to go to Heaven; nobody wants to go now!
God Bless.
I’m saddened for the occasion but - welcome back to The Place at the End. Selfishly, I have been yearning for the writings that are often offered from there. Thank you.
Thanks for the beautiful thoughts regarding the end of life. Unfortunately I can fully appreciate the emotions having very recently lost my youngest child to sudden cardiac death at the age of 35 leaving behind his pregnant wife and two young sons. It somehow helps to realize our family is not alone in its grief. Thanks for your writing.
🙏🏻❤️
So sorry brother William, my deepest condolences and prayers to you and yours 🙏💕
So sorry for your loss William. You will see your son again.
That is his mother and my belief also. Thanks for your thoughts
Very sorry to hear that WC. My sincere condolences. 😢
Thanks
Great story Bill. It made this North American’s glasses fog up too.
Most things in life involve a binary choice: off or on, right or wrong, easy or difficult, seven or "snake-eyes", dead or alive... There is no rational reason to fear death; it is inevitable, but we humans are founded on and driven by emotion, giving all of us pause. Death is both a known and unknown. As Roy Rogers said, "Life is a gamble, and you don't always win." So, sometimes you throw seven, and other times, two, three, or twelve. At the craps tables, plenty of hedges are available to help the discomfort. Not so in life. But death? That's easy: it's either the end, or the beginning. And no one knows which, at least not yet. But we'll get there. The way I see it, it's the one time in my life I'm guaranteed to win. Best always. PM
My personal philosophy: Jesus said no greater love hath a man than that he would lay down his life for his friends. Each of our fellow sojourners in life who passes on before us gives us the template and shows us how it's done. We are so fortunate. One day, it will be our turn; pass it on. PM
When an author/writer can evoke tears from their reader you know that they have a special gift.
Well done Bill. You have added another family (BPR) to Jose's who will miss him without ever knowing him . . . that is . . . until next we meet.
Bill, nice story telling. My wife knows, I want to be sent off almost the same way, with friends and family filling in all the dirt, not some backhoe driven by a stranger.
Wow! Nice!
Finally, a real Bill Bonner newsletter. That was a real breath of fresh air.
Thank you for this recuerdo.