I know this is a sad blog but it is also a celebration of the life of someone dear who has passed away.
For me (and perhaps many of you) its been a week with some fantastic highs like one research study successfully coming to a conclusion and another one started but also some lows one of which is the sad passing away of an old friend who came to my rescue when I ‘had to’ leave home with four children. The ‘had to’ bit is a long story which is being written in yet anothr book to be published hopefully later this year – one which, according to many, is very much awaited!
The funeral of my friend takes place today and although it is a sad time, when I shed tears, I will remember fond memories of my young children playing in her home which was full of antiques and knick-knacks – a true Aladdin’s cave for youngsters.
My friend was as a ‘mother’ to me and a ‘grandmother’ to my children at a painful time in our lives. However many of you reading this will have lost a close loved one which is considered to be the most painful life experience. It does not matter at what age, young or not so young, I am sure you would prefer to have died yourself than face life without the person who meant so much to you.
However if you consider life to be like a school, every experience is an opportunity to move forward and lessons are gained from even the most unpleasant painful experiences.
Time slowly heals the wounds of the heart and you will dare to laugh again and discover that you have more strength in you than you may have believed or thought possible.
‘Live life to the fullest, base life on the future but keep memories of the past’
(Photo courtesy of Scott Chan) and of course those of you who know me know that music always ‘gets to me’ Laudate Dominum, Mozart (Cecilia Bartoli)
A beautiful service to celebrate the life of a dear friend with the final poem ‘Yours’ by Leo Marks read -
The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours
The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours
A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours
And yours.
