I said a little something yesterday as my initial reaction to the news of Dolores O'Riordan's death on my Facebook page, facebook.com/thepurplelady/.
But I'd like to add a little more since I find myself feeling taken aback more than I could ever anticipate.
I'll tell you, after losing both of my parents as a young adult, no one except my siblings and children and my BFF Forever (and potential future husband) could compare in how their loss would make an impact on me. So whenever movie stars and musicians pass away, I see the loss and am empathetic to their families, but I do not go on about how very sad I am. It just isn't true. I see how death is part of life, and it is anticipated as people grow older. The untimely ones are harder to make sense of, but I believe that no one dies before it is their time—even if we can't see that it's their time. That all might sound callous, but it is my honest perspective.
All of that said, I've caught myself feeling sad about the music that will no longer be made because a very special voice has been taken from the earth. I adored the Cranberries. Their music was some of my favorite Alternative music at a time when it was fresh and new. I love the Celtic vibe that reminds me of my ancestry across the ocean. While I don't believe there is any Irish blood in my family tree, the Celtics are more than Ireland, and I am drawn to all of it.
I do not know Dolores O'Riordan, but I loved her gift of song, and my heart goes out to her children and other family. She was only a few years older than I am, and I can't imagine my children not having me around anymore. I realize, too, that she was only a few years younger than my mother was when she passed away. All of these connections are causing her loss to hit home a little harder than any other non-family member thus far.
It all reminds me of how every person makes a difference in our lives somehow.
But I'd like to add a little more since I find myself feeling taken aback more than I could ever anticipate.
I'll tell you, after losing both of my parents as a young adult, no one except my siblings and children and my BFF Forever (and potential future husband) could compare in how their loss would make an impact on me. So whenever movie stars and musicians pass away, I see the loss and am empathetic to their families, but I do not go on about how very sad I am. It just isn't true. I see how death is part of life, and it is anticipated as people grow older. The untimely ones are harder to make sense of, but I believe that no one dies before it is their time—even if we can't see that it's their time. That all might sound callous, but it is my honest perspective.
All of that said, I've caught myself feeling sad about the music that will no longer be made because a very special voice has been taken from the earth. I adored the Cranberries. Their music was some of my favorite Alternative music at a time when it was fresh and new. I love the Celtic vibe that reminds me of my ancestry across the ocean. While I don't believe there is any Irish blood in my family tree, the Celtics are more than Ireland, and I am drawn to all of it.
I do not know Dolores O'Riordan, but I loved her gift of song, and my heart goes out to her children and other family. She was only a few years older than I am, and I can't imagine my children not having me around anymore. I realize, too, that she was only a few years younger than my mother was when she passed away. All of these connections are causing her loss to hit home a little harder than any other non-family member thus far.
It all reminds me of how every person makes a difference in our lives somehow.
