Dying of cancer - NOT amateur radio

One of my wife's friends is dying of cancer. She was told she had perhaps 5 years to live, but she has lived with it for about 7 years.

She is now in the very last stages and has days or weeks to live. She was in hospital, but has come home to die.

It must be incredibly difficult for her, her husband and all their family. It is so hard to know what to do for the best. 

It brings our own limited time on this planet into focus. I am reminded of the famous poem "Spring and Fall' by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

See https://poets.org/poem/spring-and-fall .

Leaves - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year the garden looks dead. Leaves are falling off trees, the grass is wet and all looks, well,  past it. We swept up a bin full of leaves this morning, but there will be a lot more in a couple of weeks. I look forward to seeing bulbs pushing through and signs of new life. 

At first, we have to accept that things are asleep following cycles that have been the same for thousands of years.

Basically I like the seasons.

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall .  This poem  by Gerard Manley Hopkins to me says so very much.

Death - NOT amateur radio

We have just heard of the death of the husband of my wife's old work colleague. They live in Australia. Although expected, it must be such a shock when it actually happens. 

I guess it is also a wake-up call to our own mortality. I am reminded of this poem.

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall .

Margaret are you grieving.... NOT amateur radio

As one gets older thoughts turn to human mortality. All of us dies - this is more certain than BREXIT day.

One poem, spoken to a young child, that hits me is by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a metaphysical poet. You may know it. We are on this earth for a very short time really. Deep down, our mortality hits us in the pit of our stomachs.  Are we really just dust?

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall