So Long, Farewell

Several friends on Facebook have posted the news concerning the passing of Maria von Trapp, the last member of that family depicted in The Sound of Music (as opposed to the sound of Griswold).  The Internet exploded both positively and (mostly, from what I saw) negatively several weeks back when NBC ran a live version, which I take to mean that the movie and its story still have a place in people's hearts or minds (though not necessarily both).

Decades ago my grandparents saw the von Trapps perform in Vermont.  I never got around to asking my grandfather what it was like.  I just thought it was neat that someone in my family had seen them.  Years ago when I was on a trip to southern Germany and northern Austria I was told that the mountains we were looking at were the ones the von Trapps went over to escape.

Maria and her family led a life much more interesting and eventful than the one that is likely ahead for me.  I don't know how I would have dealt with things had I been in their position, and I wonder how they viewed this country and the world based on what happened.  Sometimes we hear people talk about dying "a good death", though I'm sure that has different meanings to different people.  There's no shame in going out at 99 like Maria von Trapp, and I hope that she had thoughts along the lines of one of the movie's lyrics from "So Long, Farewell":

Brigitta:  I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie
Louisa:  I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

It would be nice if we could all reach the point where we're satisfied with what we've done and are ready to see what the Almighty has in store for us next.  Just don't be in any hurry about it, okay?