Me Mufassa

Do you find that you only ponder the meaning of life when staring death in the face?

It is not uncommon to hear this and its probably a cliche. The whole episode that when faced with danger, a person's whole life flashes before their eyes.

We have heard it all before. We talk about it, experience it and then we are stopped in our tracks.

I haven't been able to move on for a week now while I ponder the meaning of life. The circle of life...Lion King.

Squeeze me?

I remember the first time I watched the Lion King. Everyone loved it when it first came out. They adored Simba, admired Mufassa and ahborred Scar. Despite everyone's affinity with the characters and storyline, as I watched the movie, I silently and morbidly thought about death. Like Mufassa, Simba would grow up, procreate and die like his father. The circle of life.

My mother died when I was eighteen and herself was very young. My feelings at the time were about the unjustness of it all. But as time wore on, and the shock wore off, I realized she would always be with me. I know she was there as I stood over her grave grieving. I know she was there when I got married and looked over my shoulder at the empty space next to my father. I know she was there in the delivery room when I placed my daughters on my chest. The circle of life.

She tells me in my dreams, "Just move forward"...and I open my eyes to catch my breath.