LOSS

The more days that pass on the calendar -- the more I realize how very short our time on earth really is. In just 2 1/2 weeks, another from my closer circle of family / friends has traveled to their eternal home.  The death of someone nearer to us causes us to look at our own lives and contemplate the meaning of our days -- those already past and the ones to come -- questioning the direction of our life and prioritizing our efforts.

Sharon Brumit Farmer was my college roommate of 4 years at David Lipscomb College.  We met in a summer program in elementary school and decided to become roommates in our early teens.  
Our sophomore year, we lived as a suite of 8 girls in one of the college dorms.  Two of our number have left this earth.  All of us have faced life challenges of health and relationships. .  . broken hearts and broken bodies.

During those years of transitioning from teens to adults we talked of every area of the life we expected.  We did not talk of debilitating illness or loss.  Sunday, after receiving the news of her passing the six of us remaining, texted our memories of that year we all lived in Fanning Hall.  Over and over we talked of the songs we used to sing. .  .harmonizing together.  

 Sharon took her place in the Heavenly Chorus about 3pm.  .  . finally able to sing again.  Sharon sang her way through life.  She was a music / English major in college -- was choral director at David Lipscomb High School and an elementary principal.  Music was such a part of her family.  AND so was ALS.  During the 8 year battle Sharon lost her all her physical abilities and her gift of singing. I know this dreadful disease firsthand from watching my mother struggle during her final months.

I read in a post from her children that as she moved HOME, her family sang over her. It was fitting that her service included a special time of singing and music.  One post from a former student, said that at every performance the choir closed by surrounding the audience singing, "Sweet Spirit".  

Social media has exploded with tributes to Sharon's courage, selflessness, love for others, her laughter and storytelling and there was always mention of her music.  Just 3 weeks before she went home, Sharon posted to FB a short paragraph the day after her birthday.  One that she had written with the use of technology allowing her to use eye movements to type a message. 


The memorial program contained this message from Sharon -- typed in this same format:

a special thank you to Bev Attwood who was able to share with us the format of the service.