THE VISIT. THE END.

This done, they entered, turned to their right and proceeded up the couple flights of stairs, where they met other functionaries, who checked their names and clarified who they would be visiting. That done, they were beckoned to sit on a row of 3 chairs. 

And here they would be have the pleasure of the black Labrador, being guided by his handler, busily walking amongst them, as the handler guided the animal to pay particular attention to the parts of their anatomy he was more interested in. No indication of drugs on them, they were politely dismissed and directed to where they should go to see their guest.

Through the door they went, and entered in a very large, high ceiling room, looking expectantly as they did so, hoping to see their guest. Looking to their right, they could see their guest standing up and returning their gaze, in order to make identification easier.

Mutual recognition established and confirmed with affectionate and enduring smiles, they approached and warmly greeted their quest with pleasantries and hugs, before sitting down at their own designated table. Tables which were placed at a reasonable distance to allow for some degree of privacy.

It might have been expected that their meeting would be full of deep sadness, yet, it was not, although their were the inescapable moments of poignancy. As they tried to make the best of the time they had together, they consciously and subconsciously place their sadness, their feelings of despair about being separated, out of their interaction. 

Now was a time to share time together, to talk about what is happening in the world, politics, international affairs, as many of the things that they had and would have been talking, arguing and discussing, had fate not intervened and, for now, separated them.

And so it was, that the visit of the three of them to see the fourth, from who they have been separated and who has been separated from them, provided them with a very enjoyable couple of hours together. 

After much laughter and animated discussion, catching up on what's new, time was called on their visit. And now, it was time for them to shake hands with and hug their guest, saying, adios, take care, until the next time.

An event which, as they looked around them and saw the dozens of other guests and visitors, was being repeated all around them, as they all shared the fate of meeting up in this fated place, where there was mostly humility and acquiesce on display.

It is not that they are without sadness, just that, with that sadness being always there, sometimes more controlled than at other times, it makes good sense for them live the happy times they are able to share, to its fullest extent. It makes sense for them to live by the motto, be happy whenever you can, because there is always tomorrow to be unhappy.

In our living, us humans are fated to experience both pleasure and pain, happiness and despair, all of which we have the ability to adapt ourselves to, to varying degrees. When we are confronted with undesirable situations which are beyond our control to change, it is important that we endeavour to be as positive and optimistic as we can.  

Since, succumbing to our despair can only feeds its growth and eventual destruction of of resolve, and robs us of the whatever happiness and pleasure we might otherwise still have had.