Nate

The weather has been June-like the last week or two -- a low cottony grey sky until early afternoon.  This morning, we gathered in the park, drew on blue and white balloons and released them for our friend Nate who died on Thursday night.  The weather felt like grief.  We watched them bob higher and higher until they were seeds against the grey, and even then we could still see them climb; they stayed right above us.  We all stood around a little awkwardly, and people put markers back in my hands while I tried to make conversation.  Then, so quietly I almost didn't notice, the sun shone down and patterned the grass with light and shadow, just for a minute before the clouds sealed up again.