August 25, 2004 - "Dead Calm"

I am worried about Eric and he with me in my heart, despite being across the earth. I know he does not have long and I hope he will is not in pain. Thoughts of seeing my grandfather unconscious in 1989 keep going through my head. We all waited some patiently some not, and there was this dead calmness in the air. I awoke one morning and he had passed in the night, I sat there in my bed in another world, being totally displaced from any other events that day. Now I feel that again and I am saddened, it is unbearable but part of life. For all life meets death, and that is the one absolute rule of which we must all abide. The last time I saw him I hugged him goodbye and was teary eyed. I love that man so much and miss him...

PUBLIUS

Suddenly, the cup slipped from his hands and fell. Although in shock, he quickly caught the cup before it hit the ground. Somewhat breathless from this incident, he thought to himself "I have led tens of thousands of soldiers into battle without fear. Why did a cup cause me to become so frightened?" He then realized that it was his mind of attachment and loss that caused him such fright. With this comprehension, he casually threw the cup to the ground and let it break.