When I lost my Cousin Ted,
I lost his wife Beverly at the same time.

She didn’t die, but she developed severe Alzheimer’s
after a COVID infection that killed Teddy.

It was really rough for that family.
I never got to see her after that.
In the short term, visits weren’t allowed,
and by the time we could have gotten to her,
I’m not even sure where she was living.

She’s probably gone by now.

Beverly used to be a poet.
Not necessarily my kind of stuff,
but we used to be able to share that side
of the universe.

There aren’t many in my family
that share the artistic bug.
Bummer to have lost one.

Also: bummer that I’m taking to saying “bummer.”