Last night we found out a friend of ours suddenly passed away. Heart attack apparently. He was two years younger than I am. This death is a little too close for me. This friend and I shared many interests, including being members of the same church. His own father died suddenly just two years ago. My friend leaves behind a wife and three sons, the oldest graduates from high school in about six weeks.
I have not had the passing of a friend or aquaintence affect me so, in a very long time.
My deepest sympathy. I have noticed that the passing of a friend often hits harder than that of a family member. Perhaps there is something to the old saying "We can choose our friends but not our family." We frequently spend more time with our friends as we get older and move away from home and family and choose them for a wide range of reasons. I have worked with the same guy off and on for almost 25 years and steadily for the last 15. And even though we get ticked with each other sometimes, we still spend every day together and I'm sure that his passing would affect me deeply. Once again, my deepest sympathy.
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Hoka Hey! The more Liberals I meet, the more I like my dogs!
It is very sad, and the more so for being untimely. And as you say, too close to you. My thoughts are with you, Padraig, and also with the man's family.
Dear Lord, lest I continue in my complacent ways, help me to remember that someone died for me today. And if there be war, help me to remember to ask and to answer "am I worth dying for?" - Eleanor Roosevelt
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
I understand as well the feeling of mortality the death of a peer can create. The realization our time here doesn't always last eight decades or more. The looking upon our lives and questioning - have we done enough, are we doing enough, what if tomorrow it's me or my spouse or and or and or....
It is always sad when those who still had so much to contribute are taken.
God Bless you and yours
Elspeth
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Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too. - Frederick Buechner
If society prospers at the expense of the intangibles, how can it be called progress?
JP, I'm so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you too, as well as with his family. May God be with all of you through this, and give you strength, comfort, and peace.
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Look with the eyes of a child.
'Hope guides me. It is what gets me through the day, and especially the night.' -- A Knight's Tale "I talk to you as I talk to my own soul...and, Sassenach,” he whispered, “your face is my heart.” -- Jamie Fraser, "Dragonfly In Amber" by Diana Gabaldon @Dremnghrt on Twitter, Dreamnghrt on tumblr - come say Hi!
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. The funeral was saturday. Our minister gave a very good eulogy. A eulogy is an interesting concept: how do you summarize a life in a few minutes? Sometimes it can capture the individual to a T. Sometimes it makes you wonder who in the world are they talking about?! The one given about my father was one of the poorest I have ever heard. It was obvious this person did not know my dad.
Anyhow, it was tough seeing the family grieve. His sons were having a tough time. Actually, so was I. Since my friends death, I have not thought about much else.