Birth and Death

I think I love my baby even more today. I am beyond-words excited to meet her and hold her in my arms with Ken. Last night was quite the experience of some "practice" contractions that lasted most of the night. Between eating, drinking water, taking a bath and a walk, they finally slowed down enough to sleep. I am glad for them. This body has to get this baby out somehow. I am learning to sleep when I can so as to rest for this transition about to happen. I find "hospice-like" similarities in most of this. Death is certainly a mystery as to when it comes, despite the physical signs and changes that occur in a person's body. I have been privileged to watch people die. For some, it takes weeks. For others, it comes as a complete surprise with little warning and the passage happens with family fairly oblivious. Ken and I stand by and watch consuming signs that our baby is nearer to her debut to our arms. For us, the process is taking weeks. Rightly so. This is apparently how many experience the birth of their children; this is true, too, with death, as family and friends release and let go. Both birth and death certainly are significant transitions commonly experienced over a period of time.

I often hear stories of family members about deaths. Each is unique and precious and must be held sacred. Birth stories are similar with the spectrum of emotion. I am thankful to hear them. They are sometimes hard to hear, similar to hearing stories about death. Regardless, the stories need to be told, even written, and handed on to each other with out fear of expressing the emotions that accompany.