I enjoyed a beautiful drive this week. I had the road mostly to myself, except the election candidates who emerged from the bushes here and there, individually or in threes. The hazy sun gave that beautiful, drawing-like look to the fields and castle ruins, my favorite Lyric FM played Claude Debussy, and I had everything planned for the day, and even for the day ahead.
When I was getting ready for my appointment, I got a voice mail from a stranger. She informed me that a friend of mine had a stroke.
I inherited this friendship after my dear friend Ruby passed away from cancer. We exchanged text messages, and sometimes met for a meal. I visited them as often as I could, which wasn’t too often. Them, that is Bob and Trevor.
Trevor loves photography, and some of his images are simply amazing. He and his father used to travel a lot. Those days are gone.
I have been thinking of life lately, and it is not as if I didn’t already know it before, but I was hit with that thought again – life is too short.
What is the key to life?
Be curious like a child
Don’t be afraid to be alone
Embrace ageing
Don’t miss the beauty in every single moment.
The pink morning light did last just a few moments. A daredevil friend and I went to this photo shoot just before the storm hit the coast. Something to remember. Something to be happy about, even though life is so short it is frightening.
PS I wrote about Bob in this blog two years ago. Please, send him healing thoughts. Trevor needs him.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Very moving post great photographs. I hope Bob is beginning to feel better. Thoughts and prayers is there anything we can do to help?
Thank you so much, positive thoughts work! Tomorrow morning I am going over there, and if it is possible, I will read him all the lovely comments.
Inese, a very tender post and my best wishes to Bob and Trevor.
Life has a way of dishing up rough moments but it also has a way of presenting us with hearts of gold when we least expect them.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am worrying about Trevor. It took him years to recover after his mother’s death, and he also lost her sister and brother, to the same cancer. He is a very strong man, but he needs his routine, his home and his pet. It is a disaster what is going on right now.
Oh Inese, I can more than understand as I spent a huge part of my life doing research about the life histories of people with disabilities and I know how very difficult it can all be. I just hope that there are ways and means to keep his routine as close to normal as possible. xx
Tomorrow I will know more – I am meeting with the lady who called me. Trevor lives with her now… He is a piece of gold.
Oh, that’s good. He’s very lucky to have people like you and the lady he lives with who care so much about him. Many are not so fortunate.
They have a great SOS in Kilkenny city. I guess it is how he knows the lady.
Kilkenny was always ahead of many other places in terms of services and organisations.
Their SOS is great. I have been there with Trevor many times.
Life is so precious. Positive thoughts from far away, Inese. They have a treasure in your friendship.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Francis!
What a sensitive and thoughtful post Inese – life really is too short and I thank you for you lovely reminder!
My best wishes to both Bob and Trevor!! May he recover soon from his stroke and may his son find enough strength to get through – I am sure your friendship helps them both very much! Lots of love, Sarah
Thank you so much, Sarah! The doctors say it will take months for him to regain his speech and mobility, but living in the country they need someone drive them to places. Hopefully everything will work out, eventually. Hugs!!!
I am thinking about Bob and Trevor…I can imagine how you feel since a friend of mine passed away 14 months ago. Yes, life is too short, so let’s love come in and fears go out.
There is always something special when reading your posts. Thanks for them 🙂
Have a great Sunday you too.
Thank you so much Montserrat! It looks like Bob is recovering, but it will take a good few months, and of course he won’t be the same, and he wont be able to drive and do many other things that have to be done to care for his son. If I lived closer, I would keep an eye on them two, but it doesn’t seem possible in the circumstances.
yes, sometimes it would be nice to be closer, not feeling so far to those friends who need you. I am sure he knows you care, and that is a great support. It could be more complete, but what can you do? Time will tell 🙂
I wish them all the best ❤
Thank you Montserrat! When Bob lost his beloved wife, his health started to deteriorate. Age takes its toll. Have a wonderful week ahead!
You too!
What a beautiful and true post Inese. Life is too short. I always think every day is a gift. healing hugs to Bob.
Thank you so much! It really upsets me that I was feeling so sorted, so content and good, with all my stuff planned and prepared, and then just a single voicemail sent everything crashing down. Tomorrow I will drive over and see if there is anything I can help with. Don’t think there is, though. They have some 15 cats and a dog in the backyard, and one at home. We all know that the life is short. Why do we live as if it lasts forever.
That is why we live as if it will last forever, because it is short. Oh and life is life isn’t it. You make your wee plans and you get things sorted and you think, all good. But there is never such a thing as sorted. Lol. It is all about rising to the challenge. Take care my sweet friend xxxxx
Thank you ! Hope you have a lovely week with many happy and amazing moments. They say that unoccupied time feels longer, but when you look back, it is the busy and happy time that feels longer 🙂 Hugs! xxxxxx
How true xxx
xxxxxx
What a great collection of photographs !
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Sending prayers for your friend.
Thank you Bernadette! Hope for speedy recovery. They eat quite healthy, and Bob is also growing his own wheatgrass. I haven’t expected this to happen.
Lovely piece. I hope your friend recovers well.
Thank you so much, Anabel!
I used to work with Down’s Syndrome people and just loved them. It was in the days of the big institutions, when they mostly didn’t get the chance to live with family. It’s so much better for them if they can, but there’s always that chance they will end up losing parents and, in doing so, end up “lost” themselves.
Healing thoughts coming Bob’s way, and strengthening thoughts coming Trevor’s way. x
Thank you so much, Sarah! I so agree with you. Trevor is 45, and he never lived in the institution, thanks to his devoted mother. He has a great life. He works, he is doing photography and art. He is serving in their church. When he was young, he participated in Special Olimpics and has won many medals over the years. What he does need, it is his routine. Now it is gone, and I am worrying about him. Thank you for your thoughts!
He sounds a wonderful person, and so does his mother, for having loved, supported, and believed in his abilities to achieve so much.
Yes, she called him ‘her angel’, and dedicated her life to raising him. Thank you for your kind words, Sarah.
Lovely pictures Inese. I’m so sorry to hear about Bob. Healing thoughts on their way.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Thank you so much for your thoughts, David! These two need positive energy. Hugs! xxxxxx
Thank you Inese, for a lovely reminder this morning of the more important things. My very best wishes go out to Bob and Trevor.
Thank you so much, Jean! Have a great week!
You too, Inese.
Thank you!
A lovely, tender, post, Inese
Thank you so much, Derrick!
I’ll send him loving thoughts as healing is found along with other benefits under the umbrella of love. Beautiful Photographs.
Thank you so much for your thought! Indeed, they need love. I am afraid there is more to this story, and I will find out that tomorrow. Thank you again!
You’re welcome 🙂
“Don’t miss the beauty in every single moment.” Wonderful … I learned this lesson long before my life was changed this year past. Magnificent post. It is always such a pleasure to see your insightful images and slowly savoir your written words …
g
Thank you so much for your kind comment! Beauty of every single moment keeps us going.
Peace and light for another week!
An excellent sharing
Inese
poignant and sensitive
Big hugs
john
Thank you so much for stopping by, John!
Hugs!
My best wishes to Bob..
Thank you so much for your good wishes. Will see, I might read these comments to him tomorrow.
What an incredibly beautiful and sensitive post. I hope and pray his health improves.
Thank you so much, Nicodemas. Doctors say it will, but it takes many months, and there are things he will never do again, like driving. For them it is crucial. Someone has to take Trevor to his Social Center and work, 20 km. Hope for some solution.
Ok, another topic of prayer. May it all be worked out.
Thank you so much, Nicodemas!
Beautiful photos and wonderful thoughts.
Thank you so much!
I’m sorry, Inese. Certainly, love & light — healing energy to Bob and all concerned. And hugs! 🙂
Thank you so much, Teagan! Growing older, we become more fragile, and so do our friends. Hugs!!!
I very much enjoyed the older post that you linked to (comments were closed, or I would have left this one there). What an amazing place! A building of such age… the energies of it came through in your photos. Lovely. More hugs. 🙂
Thank you so much, Teagan! I guess that the prayers have built a strong energy shield around this building over the centuries. Unfortunately there is no way to stop the crumbling of the sandstone, unless the entrance is reassembled and taken to museum.
I closed the comments because of the spam I was getting from the certain sort of websites linked to my 2014 posts. It was a nightmare.
More hugs!!!