One of the most touching eulogies I have ever read includes this line:
Grief is the price we pay for love.
This was a big love and now my bill is due.
I urge you to read the whole thing here.
Agnus had a touching comment on old age on his blog.
The aged donkey in the field at the crossroads has already made it out of the barn and is lying, legs tucked under him, on the grass. We stop and say hello. I used to bring carrots but getting onto his feet is now difficult. The PONs settle down on the grass verge as if greeting a donkey is something completely usual – which for them it is. From the look of the donkey, all aches and rheumy eyes and ribs, I’m guessing this will be his last summer. The first thing the 30 year old farmer does in the morning is open the barn door to let him out. The younger donkeys sleep on but this old one gets fed, stroked, then wanders out, settles down and watches the world pass.When the farmer was a boy the donkey used to carry him, and his brothers, on its back down to the stream. Old friendships count .
Old friendships, with humans or pets/animals, do indeed count.
Yesterday our alumni common page on whatsapp was afire with people from Pune stuck in Mumbai floods. I offered to help through an old friend anyone close stuck close to his home and the offer was snapped up. My old friend without batting an eyelid simply said send whoever you think needs help and I will offer shelter and food for as long as it takes.
The youngster who was offered this was totally zapped and overwhelmed.
Good for you and for your friend! I’ve been reading about the floods there and will mention them in tomorrows post.
Crying now.
It was really touching!
I read this
And then I went and read about Edward’s passing.
Can’t stop crying.
Sometimes, someone comes into our lives
And changes it forever when they leave
And nothing can be done about it
Nothing can fix it except to be grateful for what you had.
Amen to that last line. And all you can do to prepare for it beforehand is to appreciate it fully while you still have it.
I cried when angus wrote this and that old beloved donkey is not even gone yet. angus can put such meaning into such few words.
and I cried when seeing a small group of cattle swimming for their lives and being guided by some good Samaritans to higher ground and the highway.
while cars silently waited for them. they seemed exhausted and didn’t even try to run in all directions. I needed this reminder that there truly IS good in this world.
in the past months I had begun to think otherwise.
It’s like Pissaro seeing “beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” One has to notice.