Losing friends/relatives

I come from a small Island. Population of about 150. Lived there unti I was 20 and got married. Then moved to a bigger Island with about 2700. The population has dropped in the past few years to about 2400..give or take a few.

This past year 7 people on the Little Island have died, if I have remembered correctly. Basically, every family on the small Island has been touched by at least one of these deaths. If not a relative, then a friend. In some families they lost more than one. All of these people were older and some had been sick for quite some time before they died. Doesn't make it any easier.

Since November there has been about 7 deaths here on the bigger Island. All older people...again, doesn't make it any easier.

Last year there were few deaths on either Island. "They" say deaths come in 3s. Not sure who "they" are, but I think they are wrong, anyway. Threes have nothing to do with it.

As a kid I don't remember may deaths. Just a few that touched me. One was a little boy who got hit by a car. I don't know why mom took me to the church for visitation. I wasn't much older than that little boy...he was probably 2 or 3. I might have been 5. I remember seeing the bruises on his little face. It really stood out in my mind. The only other death I remember as a child was my grandfather. I was around 12 when we lost him. It was quite sudden and shocking.

I guess as we get older we become more aware of death. Then again, tragic deaths have surrounded this Island at times. Right off the top of my head I can think of 8 deaths due to drinking...7 of them drinking and driving and that is without even thinking about it! I am talking kids here. Teenagers. One died graduation night. Two boys within a year of each other. Alcohol was involved in both...and they were brothers. :( How heartbreaking is that?

Then there have been the drownings. It isn't surprising fishing is a large industry here. Two friends that I went to school with have drowned. Also a cousin.

Part of the awareness of deaths is probably the fact that, as little kids our worlds aren't very big. And as we get older, that world expands to people we meet in school, then at work and in our every day lives. Often when someone dies we hear "But I was just talking to them last week! (or last month...or yesterday...)" No matter if it is expected or not, death takes us by surprise. We are never ready for it.

I do believe that people who are dying are often prepared. I know that both of my grandmothers accepted death and waited for it. I don't believe either of them were afraid. I am not sure about my grandfather who died when I was younger. I don't think he was prepared because it was sudden. And my maternal grandfather...Altzheimers took his mind long before his body gave up. I wonder if he has alert times that no one knows about. It sure didn't seem like it at the end of his life. It was heartbreaking to watch his mind leave him while his body was still rather healthy.

I don't have any life lessons here or any real point to this post. Death is just something that has happened so often lately that it was just on my mind. I do hope that when I come to the end of my life I can look back and know I have done my best. That I have loved all I could love and been loved by those I have been in contact with. That I have taught people how to live by living a full life. So far, I think I am doing a pretty good job.

Happy New Year!

Wow! I guess, just like everyone else, I am wondering where the year has gone. Some look back at the passing of 2009 with sadness and others are glad to see it go. I guess I feel a bit of both. Since I can't go back in time, I say goodbye to the old year and look forward to the new. It was a busy year. Sam moved home in February. It was a difficult time for her...for all of us. And I cannot say I am sorry to have that time behind us.

In September Sam was off to University on the mainland. October saw Bryen moving out and into her own apartment. I miss them both. The house is once again quiet where, for awhile, it was lively with young people coming and going through the day. Sometimes I enjoy the quiet but I really miss the noise, too. As much as I miss them, I will be content knowing that I have raised two happy, healthy young women.

Christmas was wonderful this year. Robert brought his girlfriend, Brenda, to Christmas dinner. Unfortunately her daughter, Abby, couldn't make it as she was with her dad. Zach, my nephew brought his girlfriend, Josie. Both fit well into our family.

Christmas dinner was at the senior citizens apartments where my parents live. My mom had asked for the big room and it was perfect for our group of 15. Plenty of seating and room to relax after dinner. We cooked some of the stuff in the kitchen off of the big room and clean up was a snap in there.

We didn't do the usual Christmas day run around. After leaving the apartments, we went to Alen and Lindas for a little bit and then came home. The next day we went to Rebeccas and Colins and then to Josephs parents for a short visit. Even then, we didn't do a huge amount of running around.

Today we are having a New Years dinner here at home. Bryen plans on coming and bringing her friend Megan. Samantha is still home...Until Monday when we take her back to University.

It is snowing outside. Just right for a quiet day at home. :)