I though things were supposed to happen in threes? Well just recently they feel like they’re happening in tens. Or even twenties!
Okay, that’s an exaggeration, thank goodness. My point is, every time I turn around something bad is happening to someone I love, someone I know, someone I used to know.
People are dealing with hard-to-win-battles, dealing with challenges, loss and grief.
So when the news that a primary school friend died unexpectedly arrived by way of a phone call, I’m not sure I should have been surprised. Bad news or rather, horrible news, seems to be the norm in my world at the moment.
It’s hard not to remember a cute little boy, with the most liquid brown eyes and a nose covered in freckles and not be shocked, sad and feel my own mortality a little. We were in the same class and were the same age.
There were six girls and seven boys in my class through out primary school. It fluctuated a little with transient kids coming through, but we were the staples – the “locals”.
This is supposed to be “our” year. We’re all turning forty and life begins at forty doesn’t it? Well not for one of us (and not for many others, I realise).
And funnily enough, although we’re all scattered around the globe and we don’t talk often or even regularly, mostly we all know what each other is up to. Our parents (and some of us) still live in our town and they talk to each other, pass information on to us and some of us are connected by Facebook. We who live away, visit ‘home’ every so often and we catch up for a quick hello and how is everything.
I hope this is how all my other old school mates see it – it’s how I certainly do. I so proud of the fact that one of us is a high flying lawyer in New York, that one of us is on the Council, making a difference, some of us are parents, work in the community, working on oil rigs, farming. Every single one of us has achieved something really great in our lives and I love that I know about what they’ve done and are up to.
And we get to hear when something horrible happens.
We grew up in a great community and I know that same community and extra friends, this guy made during his life will rally around his family, wife, kids and friends and support them. That’s what we do in the country.
It’s going to be weird looking at the primary school photos when I head back home and know that one of us isn’t around any longer.
Fly high, my old friend. You will be remembered with total fondness from over here.
That is sad. I know what you mean about sometimes feeling that there is a lot of bad happening. I hope things look up for you and those around you. Beautiful photo!
I’m so sorry to hear of your sad news Fleur, my thoughts are with you and your community xx
I totally get that things happen in 10 and 20, I know exaggeration. I was saddened to hear of the loss not just from your life, but his family and the community. When you loose someone the feeling is deep and personal. No one experiences that pain same way. Life is short, we have to enjoy it and embrace it with both hands, remember the good times and celebrate those times with his family and the community. Laugh and smile at antics shared. I hope that with time you will all smile when have that little natter about him and that tears and sadness will be of the past.
Sorry to hear that Fleur. I’m just back from lunch with 8 girlfriends from school – Modern School Year of 59 who usually catch up once a year. We decided we ought to meet more often from now on as a few from our year have passed on. Such valuable friendships must be nurtured. Three of us have known each other since kindergarten days in South Perth!
Take care x
I hear what you’re saying, Fleur. Sometimes you just can’t believe what you’re being told down the long wire of the phone. Certainly, you don’t want to believe it. Life has proven itself again to be so very fragile. xx