Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The lives of others

The lives of others

While brewing over my morning coffee today, I heard trumpets and voices on the street. Peaking out, I saw about thirty people line dup at the foot of the house across the street from ours. A flag was draped from the balcony of the 2nd floor flat, and the balcony door decorated with flowers.
A silver-wedding. Does that exist in other countries? When you have been married for 25 years, you have your ”silver-wedding” – and apparently my neighbours have held on for that long.
Their friends were giggling on the street, singing along to a song about the morning and one about the beauty of having someone next to you on your walk through life.

It got me thinking. And smiling. A couple of months ago, the same family had a big party in honor of what I assume was the son or daughter - a group of youngsters with hats who were celebrating the end of an era - finishing high school.

I like how people celebrate each other. I like how this morning, I saw 30 people standing in the street, singing and laughing, and two people standing on a balcony with surprised looks on their faces and a happy tear in one eye. Celebrating each other. Friends and lovers and those things in life that are supposedly common - living together, having children, their graduation, all the regulars and givens - without realising that they're not. They are actually pretty special events and moments in our lives, it is actually quite extraordinary to see others partake in a happiness that doesn't concern them. Great for my morning vibe :)

Happy Tuesday all!

Friday, August 01, 2008

The loss of a friend, long gone

Today I learned that a long-lost friend of mine died 4 years ago. I've been trying to reconnect with him for 5 years - and realise now why my efforts were futile. He was beautiful and I'm sure he still is - wherever he resides. I asked him to write me something before I left the Netherlands in 2000, and this is what he gave me...

Beware the sling + arrows of outrageous fortune
They find in man a range of being
From the stoic altitude of quiet fortitude
to the siren song of the muse set forth

Who's to shout of life's joys + cruelties
who of the mortal world of thought
To write or not to write; that is the question
To answer involves a leap of faith

Who is brave enough to place soul on paper
To render bare what all must hide
Humanity revealed, in black + white, on paper
Testament to mans quest for self

So wherewithal this writing business
this note in life's impartial eye
Feed me now what food can't nourish
Those stirrings of my mentor's minds

I place these words for your perusal in answer to your honest self
I wish you every 'fate's' indulgence
So you may gain your 'chosen' life
Beware! indulgence is an utter folly
what bounds, know not human conceit

I bid you check your sense perspective
Ensure it's point is you, your life!
For as you know perspective is everything
From where we look determines life

A book is surely one of man's great wonders
A chance to 'see' through another's eyes

May your heart be peaceful now, Draighnean...