Julia
In Memoriam
- Joined
- 10 May 2005
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Why, burglar? Because it reminded you of your own mortality? Just too sad?
Funerals are not for the dead, but for the friends and family to pay tribute to the person they'll miss.
A very dear friend of mine died from cancer recently. I miss her enormously. She was the 'port in the storm' kind of person - calm and objective. One of the rare people who, when you talked with her, understood as much what you were not saying as the actual words.
She was as philosophical about dying as she was about living, focusing on how good her life had been, anxious only about how her much loved husband would manage without her.
There's a part in most funerals following the eulogies etc where the celebrant asks if anyone would like to say anything. Usually there's just silence. I took a deep breath this time and made my way up to stumble my way through a tearful tribute to her. It was very inadequate but much appreciated by her family.
Might be something to consider in future, burglar?
The older we become the more loss features in our lives. That's just the normal life cycle. For myself I observe the desire for greater simplicity, less stuff. Once there's enough money to provide security, the old drive to go on making money seems to dissipate.
A while ago, in a novel, there was this single sentence in the context of an aging woman, reflecting on her life, which struck me as truthful and beautiful.
Not an expression of sadness or regret, just simple acceptance of reality.
Agreed entirely. Especially if you're lucky enough to have a family. Not everyone does, then friends are even more important, as is a sense of self-sufficiency.
Ditto on the gardening. Will put a photo or two up on the above thread later.
The flowers are smiling in the sun, the flowers on the tomatoes and passionfruit are all setting fruit beautifully.
Then there's the dog running into the sea full of the sheer joy of living.
