The Corner

Many years ago I met this woman, I had drove off the road from Ekalaka Park, Ted and her drove us out to get my yellow pickup back on the road,

It was an embarrassing way to meet, but Darlene was a woman of humor, and all was good, we laughed, her’s was such a memorable laugh,

Throughout the years she showed genuine care for many, the Alzada Grade School comes to mind, a school teacher like my mother,

Those times in Alzada took me back to my childhood, it drenched me with familiarity, it cemented my appreciation for Darleen, and for education of all youth.

She was always generous to myself, daughter and son for birthdays, the holidays, she drove the miles to see us all,

She would keep me informed of my hometown when she visited, a master of conversation, story teller,

Her Lutheran faith was chosen by me for a number of years, I benefited from this gift, she had no questions about it, didn’t search for other paths as I so did, there is a certain comfort in this now,

Her shelter belt in Ekalaka, she was so very proud of it, Christmas decorations were put up on Thanksgiving, she wished to celebrate correctly in this act.

She was there at the birth of her grandchildren, I remember that September and that August day well,

Her brother Charles, I helped out one time, her mother who I only knew briefly, good people, she spoke often of her father, the moss roses reseeded and came back each year for her mother,

The church at Capitol, small and with such American charm, her community of Camp Crook, of which I knew many from in my youth at Belltower,

Her cranberry juice, I now drink it most mornings too, such is how things are passed along,

Visiting her in the Ekalaka Courthouse, where she had an office for those years, my sister within the same building, Darlene was Republican, she was elected,

So in ending, she was a gracious woman, an woman of acceptance of family, in all its idiosyncrasies,

She traveled the world for a time, her stories of her journey were quite wonderful to hear,

She married again to a good man, someone who seemed to be meant for Darlene, I was happy for her choice in later life to love,

And in viewing the service, in these days of technology, I saw that the unwelcome guest of grief, a human experience has arrived,

It will remain for us, stubbornly remaining, and may linger, but gradually weakens in its grip,

As mere mortals we must accept our fate, as a higher plan is involved,

Life is sometimes taken, human choices sometimes seem to interfere, life’s time being indeterminate, yet love remains regardless, this but a higher power’s realm,

My understanding of the afterlife has changed, yet regardless of one’s views,

We might all agree that such a soul is not to be extinguished, but will live on.

— Erwin Curry, Missoula, February 22, 2023