Brighter

Some people live in darkness
Their whole life through
I just know that I’d have been one of them
If it hadn’t been for you

Now, sometimes I feel afraid
As we all tend to do
But I think of the loving good times we’ve had
And I know we’re gonna make it through
— Carole King, Brighter

This song came to me out of the middle of nowhere yesterday to lift my spirits. It’s really quite simple. Having known Tim and shared those times together makes life more bearable. The song also reminded me of how Tim would play away on the family piano and sing with such conviction, and invite me to sing with him. Carole King songs were in our repertoire. I can still see the faded cover of the Tapestry song book, but he didn’t use sheet music. He noodled around until he found the song. The opening bars of “It’s Too Late” was one of his favorite piano parts. He would play that riff as a form of beckoning me to the piano bench.

Grief is weird. Sometimes the pain of it gets shut off for a time and there’s a buoyancy to remembering the good times that actually carries you forward.

This graphic image reminds me of family who knew that Tim-brightness. It is from Tim’s 54th birthday, penned by Marita and captured in time by Shaun Heffernan. A star, a heart, a dog.