Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Last week, by chance, I was checking the Stettler Independent. I learned that Dixie had left us and passed on to other side. I was shocked, then saddened. For a period of a couple of years during high school, Dixie and my sister, Gayla Burlingham, were best friends to each other. Though geography and time separated them, they each continued to hold onto tender affections for each other for the remainder of their time on this earth.
I will never forget a divinely wonderful afternoon about 10 years when I went to Dixie and Dave's place at Buffalo Lake (Dixie had a name for it something like "my happy place") to pick up my sister after a visit with Dixie and Dave. I listened to Dixie and Gayla tell wonderful stories of their time in high school and at dances, reminiscing gaily of antics the two of them got into. For a fleeting instant they were both 17 again.
It was an exquisite afternoon because I struck by how good they were together and how peaceful and happy Dixie was.
I hope and trust that Dave's kids are surrounding him with love and care as he traverses a difficult passage. I hope further, when the pain of grief subsides, as it will with time, Dixie's family will be ever be grateful they had such a beautiful person guiding their lives. May her lovely soul continue to guide their lives.
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garth burlingham
garthburlingham@fastmail.com
