"Life Goes On"

[orleans]

"If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I'm gone speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep, if you must,
Parting is hell,
But life goes on,
So sing as well."
--Joyce Grenfell (english actress, comedienne. from her books "hats off" and "joyce and ginnie; the letters of joyce grenfell and virginia graham" --both collections put together and edited by janie hampton, published posthumously.)

i recently ran across this in a book of memorial poetry.

(it has become glaringly obvious that life does, in fact, go on. for better or worse. i'm still working on that singing part)

[auntAgonist]

1. Beautiful. Thank you so much for that. It does indeed go on and it used to make me so angry

Last edited Fri Feb 21, 2014, 08:47 AM - Edit history (1)

that it did.

I remember the day my Mother died. My Dad had called and I was driving to their home. On the freeway I passed so many cars, people laughing, enjoying their ride. Smiling as they drove by me. Kids playing games in the cars. I passed the park. Families doing family stuff that I couldn't ever do again with my Mum.

How dare they ..... but, life goes on doesn't it?



aA
kesha

[orleans]

2. when my dad died (25 years ago!) i had the a similar experience

and i remember i was also driving. everything seemed so surreal--the day was still happening, the beautiful clouds (which he often noticed and mentioned) were in the sky, the cars and traffic out on the road, the stop lights still worked, the world was turning just like everything was so normal. and in my world nothing was normal.

in my world everything had changed and altered. and it was surreal because the outside world seemed unaware and completely unaffected. and how could that possibly be?

when my mom died i was so aware of that experience i had with my dad that i watched & waited to feel it once again. but i didn't. not sure why. maybe because after experiencing it once i was too aware of that mind trick/sensation? maybe because i had already been shown that "life goes on" for the rest of the world even when my world tumbles down. i don't know.

i know her death hit me a lot harder. i had her to lean on when i lost my dad. she was my rock and my strength. her and i were always a lot closer. and we were together 20 years more.

[PasadenaTrudy]

3. I lost

my mom and my only sister within two months of one another. This was just over 3 yrs ago. Dad died 27 yrs ago, and I have my brother left. I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate the world without my sis. I wasn't close to my mom, so I don't miss her at all. I just turned 50, dealing with menopause...argh, too much sometimes. I've suffered from major depression all my life and am currently seeing a shrink and on meds. I just don't see much reason to live often, but I keep plodding on. I try to focus on things I'm grateful for and the small joys around me - - flowers, trees, birds, my dog, my partner. But, boy this is a tough one.

My dear friend who has been like a mom to me all of my life is nearing death now too. Alzheimer's and cancer. She only weighs 50 lbs and looks like a concentration camp victim. So hard to see, but I make it a point to just sit near her and talk to her.

[orleans]

4. i'm so sorry you're going through all this.

the love and companionship/company you give to your dear friend is important. her spirit knows all you've done for her.

it sounds like it's been a difficult time for you, and understandably so.
hold tight to the love that surrounds you.

[PasadenaTrudy]

5. Thank you

Taking things one day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time...