Aloha Ciao Shalom

What ciao, aloha, and shalom all have in common is that each word means both hello and good bye.

I never quite understood how that could be…

I can tell you for sure that Samantha and Briana were positively aghast, mortified, and incredulous.

I had not intended to do it.

It was not premeditated.

I did not wake up that morning and think Hmm today I am going to cross that line.

Words cannot adequately describe what had actually come over me. All I can say is an overwhelming wave of joy, love and respect befell me—and then opportunity knocked.

Because as Joan Rivers left the stage and walked towards me, I stepped out of the aisle, opened my arms, and full-on embraced her.

I needed to say hello.

I needed physical contact.

Joan graciously and tentatively hugged me in return.

Afterwards and until recently I regretted being a little bit creepy.

I regretted being that person.

But my perspective has changed.

Joan is gone—taken with no warning.

I am so very happy to have had the privilege of watching her perform and then (inappropriately) shedding proper decorum with an embrace.

What I did not know then and what I know now is my hello was a good bye.

Both words can be one in the same.

All beginnings are endings; all endings are beginnings.

And so aloha, ciao, and shalom Joan Rivers.

When I think of you I will always laugh—and remain thankful that no restraining order ever was issued.