JUST A THOUGHT - ON THE PRICE OF LIFE IS DEATH PART 1.

'I do not know if it is the case, that, if we are more able to be at ease with the thought of our own death.  Then we will be better able to deal with the reality of the death of others, especially our loved ones. 

But of this I do know, with some certainty, that, in the end, it really does not matter whether we are or are not comfortable with death. Since we have no power to avoid it. 

And must focus our thoughts and actions on exercising endeavour what control or influence we do have, over the process dying.'

As we drove along the expanse of the motorway, heading north, we, unlike Chuck Berry, did have a particular place to go. 

We were heading to Y's funeral, making a number of stops along the way.  The first to pick up a relative, and then, on the other two occasions, for comfort breaks.


We had arrived at the unimposing crematorium earlier than the appointed hour.  And must now to wait for the ceremony and  cremation of two other dearly departed souls to take place, before it would be the turn of Y.

So a member of staff directed us to drive to the adjoining car park to await our turn, or, to put it more precisely, Y's turn. 

You see, it is one of the apparent anomalies of funerals that, although the person whose funeral it is, more often than not is always there.  

They are never there, in the ergo-sumness of the term, as they take not active part in the proceedings. 

As is the case with God or the gods, we can, as much as we like, try to convince ourselves that 'spirits' or 'souls' of the departed are there looking down on us.   

Standing beside or among us as we struggle, numbly and tremulously with our grief, but there is little, if any confirmed evidence of this.

But for now, as we are joined with the arrival of other family members, friends and people who wanted to take the opportunity to pay their final respects to Y.  

To be continued!