Four Funerals And A Wedding
Pretty much describes, not key moments of my year, but how things went on with the people around me -- the dear ones and not so dear ones.
At the beginning of the year my Mother lost her Aunt, whom I remember as a chain smoking old lady who served me my first love affair with a macaroni salad.
Then my cousin who decided to kill himself some, I don't know, over six years ago was finally laid to rest. His ashes were locked in an ossuary along with her Dad's who also passed away this year after a long battle with an illness that kept him paralysed for 10 years.
I remember that every time I see him, I wonder why he won't just stop breathing and end his misery. Not to mention his wife's. But I guess people have to accomplish their missions before they could leave earth. Doesn't matter if you're strapped to your mattress and you're defecating on a bed pan beneath you.
Whatever his mission was, only he knows.
Late last month, I received news that a former co-worker was held up and shot. And it hit me how people can die so senselessly and so quick. In a matter of one week he was buried and maybe all that's left with his loved ones are murky memories of his last hours alive.
You'll never know if every time you walk out the door, you'll be returning in one piece. No, you'll never really know what fate has in store for you.
Now capping the year, I have to go to a wedding that no one wants to happen. My dear friend is marrying a guy whose mere mention of the name sends people to run amok. And everyone is stressed out because it's taking place on a weekday when people normally work, and out of town.
The thing is, no matter how you despise your friend's choices you need to accept them and witness a celebration where you're thinking: I'd rather be drooling in front of my PC than swallowing all these!
And your friends know that. That however crazy their life choices may be, you will be there to chew them and choke on them. And stay as friends.
Because what are friends for if you can't use emotional blackmail.
At the beginning of the year my Mother lost her Aunt, whom I remember as a chain smoking old lady who served me my first love affair with a macaroni salad.
Then my cousin who decided to kill himself some, I don't know, over six years ago was finally laid to rest. His ashes were locked in an ossuary along with her Dad's who also passed away this year after a long battle with an illness that kept him paralysed for 10 years.
I remember that every time I see him, I wonder why he won't just stop breathing and end his misery. Not to mention his wife's. But I guess people have to accomplish their missions before they could leave earth. Doesn't matter if you're strapped to your mattress and you're defecating on a bed pan beneath you.
Whatever his mission was, only he knows.
Late last month, I received news that a former co-worker was held up and shot. And it hit me how people can die so senselessly and so quick. In a matter of one week he was buried and maybe all that's left with his loved ones are murky memories of his last hours alive.
You'll never know if every time you walk out the door, you'll be returning in one piece. No, you'll never really know what fate has in store for you.
Now capping the year, I have to go to a wedding that no one wants to happen. My dear friend is marrying a guy whose mere mention of the name sends people to run amok. And everyone is stressed out because it's taking place on a weekday when people normally work, and out of town.
The thing is, no matter how you despise your friend's choices you need to accept them and witness a celebration where you're thinking: I'd rather be drooling in front of my PC than swallowing all these!
And your friends know that. That however crazy their life choices may be, you will be there to chew them and choke on them. And stay as friends.
Because what are friends for if you can't use emotional blackmail.
