You know, it's funny. (For lack of a better term). But I was just listening to the last track from the: "And Then, Winter Came" EP, called: "I Want to Wish You A Merry Christmas!" When, I realised something about the lyrics towards the end of the tune, that I had actually never even realized before; after all these years, no less. And, it totally blew me away when I finally realized something...
As I mentioned before, it's the passage towards the end of the song, that was actually a contribution by an old friend, many years ago. It's the part that goes:
"Merry Christmas - Dawn will bring the angels; Their coming to fly all your sorrows far away..."
Now, what is kind of odd and mysterious about this particular line in the song, is that it was originally written maybe, no more then about 10 yrs before the passing-away of a dear friend, by the name of: Karen Ki*k; who had actually, sadly, left this world one Christmas morning. As I said, I had never even realized that before, regarding this particular part in the song, sort of mysteriously being reminiscent of the passing of Karen, that is, until now. She was a fantastic, very special, and beautiful human being, who I will never forget, and who I sometimes find myself thinking about (along with memories of her family) around this time of year...
I had spent several Christmases with the Ki*k family back on Long Island, when I was still in my early 20's. And, they are memories I will always cherish, and never forget. So, I was devastated to find-out, during one of my visits to their house, in Massapequa, Long Island, (during a time when I hadn't seen them for several years), when the K*rk's had sadly informed me, that during the last year of her life, Karen was diagnosed with some type of brain aneurysm; and that, they (and Karen's daughters) had found that she had passed-away in her sleep, one Christmas morning, in her upstairs apartment. So now, I find, that whenever I listen to this song, I also sort of like, remember Karen, and the K*rk family; As well as, that time in my life, all those Christmases ago...
I am sort of reluctant to mention this as well, but, there were even several times many years later, when I was talking on the phone to Karen's brother Chris, in Walkersville, around Christmas time; and after losing touch with each other for something like 15yrs or so, when I could actually, in an inexplicable way, sort of like feel Karen's presence, after I hung-up with him. I can still recall one time in particular, around the holidays, (when I was sort of like thinking about her and her family, and that time in my life, because of my recent conversation with Chris, when I could sort of like feel her presence), and as I was going to the post-office to specifically mail a Christmas card to Karen's family, (along with, the usual mailing of some cards to some other friends, and my own family), all of a sudden, it actually, sort of like, mysteriously started to snow! Very lightly. Like flurries. But it was a noticeable amount of snow. And then, after about 20 minutes or so, it suddenly stopped! Some kind of sign from Karen? Can't really say, for sure. (But, I kind a' got goose-bumps from the experience never-the-less, if you know what I mean?) I can still remember telling Chris about it on the phone, with tears in my eyes. Rather reluctantly mind you, as I was sort of like afraid to upset him, and told him so. (After all, it was his sister). But he reassured me that I didn't, and thanked me for sharing the experience with him...
It's something I don't think I will ever soon forget, in itself. In fact, if there is such a thing as a heaven, I definately believe Karen is there. It was that real. Or, surreal. Whatever you wanna to call it. But it was sort of like, unmistakable. In fact, I don't know if there may be some kind of relationship, in a way, but Karen's brother Chris, was actually a Franciscan Brother, for a period of time. And, had even served as a missionary to the poor for a little while, in Papua, New Guinea. So, the family definately had that side to them, to begin with...
What does it all mean? I have no idea. At least, not at this point in my life anyway...
But, I never-the-less, sort of like felt compelled to blog about it, in relation to this particular track from the album. Even though, for several reasons, I don't normally like to get this personal. (On a public platform, at least). But, for whatever it's worth, that's how much it sort of like struck me. And, I guess, I just had to share it here, for some reason. Sort of like an emotional thing, I guess. And in memory, of another very special person, and friend, who I will never forget...