One More Sad Goodbye

"Death ends a life, not a relationship." ~Jack Lemmon, American actor

The earliest cremation slot available after Les' death on January 24th was Tuesday, February 14th. It is yet one more sad and painful goodbye. Yes, I know Les' soul is no longer with his body, but I knew every inch of his body intimately and I loved it. His lovely brown eyes flecked with green. I've never seen anyone else with eyes the same color as Les'. The laugh lines radiating out from the corners of his eyes and mouth, etched deeply into his cheeks by a lifetime of laughter. His beautiful smile that lit up my heart. His lovely, large, warm hands, which always reached out for my small ones as we walked, lacing his fingers through mine. Those same hands that touched me with such love and tenderness. How I loved to watch Les' hands at work, making things. He so enjoyed every project he completed on NB Valerie--all built with his wonderful hands filled with love. Les' long, strong arms which continued to have great strength to the very end; those same arms hugged me hello and goodbye a thousand thousand times.Those loving arms pulled me tightly into his chest next to his warrior heart so strong until death stole its final beat. The way Les moved and walked--I could spot him walking towards me from a half mile because I knew his gait as well as I know my own face. Those strong lovely legs of his which carried Les through this lifetime and decades of hard graft as a courier, getting in and out of his van 70-80 times a day, delivering parcels across greater London, up and down stairs and across roads; those same legs sauntered the tow-path in joy wherever his feet took him. So many, many small details wrapped up in Les' lovely flesh...all gone now, melted away to ash.