Hallowe’en – Time Of The Dead

Always, we have an existence around us that is material.  Some of it is alive or living, that is, there is or has been growth, development and so forth.  One day the alive stops living.  The things that supported that life are for some reason gone.  It’s individual but it can be for masses of people or other beings all at the same time.  The things that supported all life with the tilt of the earth are nearly at their low point or gone for a while.  The world has done it’s shifting so that the growing season(s) of the world in the Northlands has waned and the dying time is at hand. 

November is the time of the dead, and at the moment it is “All Hallows Eve,” the evening of the start of November.  It may be proper to think of the hallowed or sainted ones when thinking of all that is dead – it’s a positive, hopeful thought amid a depressing view – but there is more to think of than those.  Those are noted and usually considered for honor.  They are so considered because their works were worthwhile.  There are those whose works were not so great, just maybe ordinary or what was expected.  Their works are noticed by no one.  It’s as if they never existed.  

The better day is the day of all souls.  That includes everyone and everything of the once alive, including the sainted ones as well as some obscure mouse in the field.  The saints are remember without help, and the mice can’t be remembered exactly because they weren’t known by those remembering.  But, the rest, the ones whose works are noticed by no one, are then acknowledged.  Those, too, played a part in all that is.  Without them the world would be less than it is. One can even make it a point to think of recalling one who had a hand in something, like he who built the building at hand. 

A pause in everyday life is good. 

Unexpected Thoughtfulness

Genuinely friendly thoughts are often welcome at the old folks’ home.  That can be just about any cheery thing of a minor nature – a small friendly greeting card at an odd time, a considerate pause at the elevator, an extra dollop of topping on ice cream, etc., as long as it’s unexpected.  Such things are also appreciated outside of and before life at the old folks’ home; but, in the “retirement world” life has often reached a state of just existence for many.  People don’t expect to achieve anything else in this world, although remote ideas like winning a lottery exist.  There’s little to be expected.   

That came to mind abundantly today for yours truly when an unexpected wish for a happy Hallowe’en arrived.  It isn’t as if the holiday is celebrated for some special reason or any such thing as it isn’t.  It’s just a friendly, thoughtful note of value for it’s friendliness more than anything else.  The person is fairly distant in mileage and hasn’t been seen in person for some time.  Being unexpectedly remembered even if it is an organized thing is uplifting even if all is well enough around.  A gift is a gift.  Personal plans for a little remembrance were already in mind for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Some of the people in the apartment building underfoot will be involved in the party that is on the agenda.  Some of the people will surely have contact with some family members, if for no other reason then because it is a weekend and there’s time off from work.  Some people will be occupied by necessary chores, such as those emptying out an apartment down the hall for whatever reason the lady that was in it is not coming back.  And, some of the people are killing a day (again) half wondering if there is something else they might be doing.  A considerate thought there could change the world. 

Nice surprises can be fun.