Friday 29 August 2014

Home alone at the end of the summer

Tonight I am home alone. And next week the kids go back to school, denoting the end of the summer.

So, that explains the title of this post!

A sunflower for Tina 
I've been in a reflective mood recently. It started early last week, when I learned about the passing of Tina Downey, a wonderful blogger who did so much for others. She was a fun, lovely lady, who was far too young. I 'met' her when I took part in the 2012 A-Z Challenge, and loved reading her blog. She will be missed by so much people, as the comments on her blog and Facebook page prove.

A few days later, I discovered Ailsa Abraham, an author I've known for about the same length of time, had been in a serious motorbike accident, and was in a coma (although I believe she's currently moving out of ICU into a normal ward). Again, Ailsa is a very caring lady who often thinks of other people before herself, and she's strongly opinionated, standing up for her beliefs and for other people. She's had her fair share of health issues this year, and just when she seems to be getting on top of them, this accident comes out of the blue.

Otters for Ailsa
So, I am thinking of both Tina's family and Ailsa this week.

And I'm also thinking how you just never know what's around the corner, how small worries shouldn't matter, how having friends and family with you is the most important thing in the world. We all forget, don't we? But we shouldn't. We should make the time to spend with the people we love. We should appreciate every moment of every day, even when some of those days are being pretty rubbish.




21 comments:

  1. The next day is never promised to us, or to those we care about. Which means we need to make sure they know now.

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    1. Exactly. Sometimes we just take too much for granted.

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  2. I agree with should never take anything for granted. We never know what's in store for us. Love and appreciate people while we can.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Christine. I hadn't realised how gloomy this post was :-/

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  3. I so agree with this sentiment, Annalisa. We never know what is around the corner for any of us, we should all take the time to tell those we love and care about how much they mean to us. I don't think it is a 'gloomy post' either just a reflective one, like a thought for the day :)

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    1. Thought for the day... I like that idea. I shall try for a happier thought next time,

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  4. Hi Annalisa - we just don't know what's around the corner ... and then those families who lose loved ones too early - we need to be compassionate and care for all around us, especially our family and friends we see all the time ...

    Have a happy weekend with the family before school starts next week ... and a new year begins ... cheers Hilary

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    1. September always feels like the start of a new year for me - I spent far too long working in education!

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  5. I hadn't come across Tina - but that's terribly sad news. And I didn't know Ailsa had had an accident - how awful. Yes, we never know what's round the corner and, hard as it is, shouldn't take anything for granted x

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    1. Tina will be very much missed. Ailsa is doing well, I believe. A friend of hers is keeping us updated through her Facebook group.

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  6. Yep, we never know what is around the corner for us. Life takes surprising, at times shocking twists and turns hurtling us along this journey. My prayers with Tina's family as well as for Ailsa's recovery.

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    1. Without those twists there would be no stories - but some twists are harder to accept than others.

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  7. Each day is a gift. I had the same thoughts this week- that we squander time with needless worry.

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  8. Yes - there've been some other people's tragic stories on our writers' forum that makes my small troubles seem insignificant too. Here are good wishes fro your friend - I used to think a coma was close to terminal until my 87 year old mother spent 7 days on life support and yet is abour to celebrate her 90th birthday this year!

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    1. I think the coma in this case was medically induced to help recovery, but it's amazing how resilient the human body can be. I hope your mother is having a big party :-)

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  9. Well said. So sorry to hear about Tina and Ailsa. The otter pic is perfect.

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  10. I'm so sorry to hear about Tina and Ailsa's tragic accident.

    On a lighter note, I haven't been left home alone in so long I don't think I would know what to do with myself. The kids here at the Jersey Shore don't go back to school until the 4th of September. I'm hoping for some sense of normalcy to return to my world after that date. Fingers crossed!!

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  11. very reflective post - good writing. Indeed, you just never know what can happen. Keep looking forward and stay positive. Hope your boys have a great school year. And chocolate does help any situation.

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  12. I'm sorry about those bloggers, and my condolences to their families. I didn't know them, but it's good that they made valuable connections with so many people.

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  13. Tina's death put things in perspective for me as well. I should stop worrying about everything and just live everyday well and never put things off for later. I should live my life for the now and enjoy it.

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