Today is the beginning of Dia de los Muertos.

Per Wikipedia:

The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember amusing events and anecdotes about the departed.

On October 30 of last year my youngest sister died. We aren’t Mexican, and if we were … I’m not quite there yet. Especially the humorous part.

But I want to mark the occasion, so perhaps I’ll note the odd ways in which the world goes round.

I posted on Facebook that I’d be coming to North Carolina for the funeral. A couple of people pinged me to suggest that we get together if I had time. One was a woman I used to know 30+ years ago, back before I moved to Colorado.

So that night, a few hours after the ordeal that was Cindy’s funeral, she and I met downtown at Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing. It was fantastic seeing her again, fantastic talking to her and hearing about her life. And, for a couple of hours, having something to think about other than what brought me here.

There was more. See, she wasn’t just someone I knew way back when. We were involved, and there was always a tremendous chemistry between us. As it turned out, there still was. Is.

Very long story short, a year later I’ve moved to the town I grew up in and we’re engaged.

It’s the happiest I’ve ever been. But I reflect periodically on the fact that if my sister hadn’t contracted a rare, brutal cancer, I almost certainly wouldn’t be here.

I like to believe that Cindy would be happy that her pain opened the door to my joy, but even hoping such a thing makes me cringe with guilt.

Life comes at you fast, they say.