17 Comments
User's avatar
Heidi White's avatar

I very much connected with this piece, Mesa. Thank you for sharing how you really are. Lost my dad a couple months ago. I went from despair to noticing so much more. In nature I feel whole, held. I notice the way the trees greet me, the drops of water capturing the light. I also have been riding a roller coaster of anger, grief, joy, contentment, gratitude. Reading your piece I feel seen.

Mesa Fama's avatar

I’m so sorry, Heidi. Thank you for sharing with me, riding that roller coaster alongside you! šŸ«‚šŸ©µ Lots of love your way.

Danni Levy's avatar

Heidi, sorry for your loss. It is so beautiful how you have been noticing more. This happened to me after losing my 14 yo nephew. I would notice details as if I was looking through his eyes. As if I was observing and appreciating life for the both of us. Because life is so precious. We feel this so deeply when one ends. It is so precious - does it ever really end? Sending love

Mary Beth Spray's avatar

This is good Mesa. Love the feeling words and "name and say it all out loud ", Thanks for sharing. XO

Danni Levy's avatar

Love all of this. I would never give up feeling everything for anything. But I do sometimes think that a bit more joy and peace would be nice. When I think this I know that I just have to notice more and better. šŸ’•

kaylen alexandra's avatar

Love the feelings and the spacing in your poem! Makes each emotion really stand out šŸ’™šŸ’™

& why is it SO hard to stay hydrated??

Mesa Fama's avatar

Right?!! I don’t know!! I drink like 80 oz of water a day and still it doesn’t feel like enough 🤣🤣🤣

kaylen alexandra's avatar

It’s never enough!! šŸ˜‚šŸ˜­ā˜€ļøā˜€ļøā˜€ļø

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

ā€œDo not take me to a funeral because I promise I will make a weird comment and it will be at just the right time that you will laugh when you probably shouldn’t.ā€

I wrote an essay years ago about my family + funerals, beginning with me, 8 years old, getting my finger stuck in the steering wheel of my mom’s car before my great-grandmother’s funeral. I never got the essay right, but I think I’ll dig it out again after reading this. Would love to read one about your weird funeral comments 🤣

Mesa Fama's avatar

I may just have to do that now, Paul! Thanks so much for sharing. Hope your finger was okay.

I remember saying to my mom during my grandma’s viewing that ā€œthey really did a number on grandma’s face - she looks almost less dead.ā€ My mom giggled and then said ā€œyeah I think you’re kind of right.ā€

And then I gave the eulogy and proceeded to tell a story about my grandma and her Richard Simmons tapes, made the church laugh. I call that a small win! ā€œSweatin to the Oldiesā€ for the actual win.

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

I love this. My mom and uncle, her baby brother, always somehow get each other laughing, and then they can’t stop because they know they need to stop.

SuddenlyJamie's avatar

This arrived at the perfect time. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I’ll probably do both.

Mesa Fama's avatar

Oh friend- I promise to sit with you during both. 🩵🩵

Bonnie Solomon's avatar

Okay, I'm booking you for the next funeral I go to. ā¤ļø

Mesa Fama's avatar

Yesssssss!!! šŸ˜šŸ˜

VulnerablyLalli's avatar

As you know I taught social emotional learning before tbi.

Afterwards my ability to name and speak out loud my emotions is default anymore. I was forced to do such deep profound mirror work I welcome it now, i love my own reflection. Even if it’s some sh*t i need to reframe, heal, or learn.

I suspect in some ways, it may be forcing you too as well. šŸŖžšŸ«‚

Mesa Fama's avatar

You know it, friend. šŸ«‚šŸ©µ