Those who are gone.

It is when I’m working in the bar or at the bottle shop that I miss Del the most.

That’s not quite right. They are the times I often think I will see him again.

I keep expecting him to walk in and say he’s after a beer he’d been reading about or he was passing and thought he’d pop in for a chat.

He was the first of my close friends to die and it’s still so odd he is not around. There have been many times since that I’ve thought, “I should give Del a call to see if he fancies a pint.”

It’s not that I’ve forgotten he’s no longer there, more like I’ve forgotten to remember he is gone. 

I don’t know if that makes much sense. I know what I mean.

Photo by Alex Dukhanov on Unsplash

We can often take friends and family for granted. Thinking they will always be there.

Yet all of us know it is not true.

The fact I still don’t get to see my daughter as I used to always weighs heavy on me. Sometimes it feels like I’m just a few grains of sand away from the scales tipping too far in the wrong direction.

I don’t know how I keep it together…No, that’s not true. I do it for her. So I am here when she is ready and able.

The news that she has been talking again is a huge milestone. I hope I get to hear her again soon.

Still, I am more fortunate than some.

Ah, this took a turn to the darker side, didn’t it?

Okay. Take a breath.

Next Wednesday would have been Del’s birthday. It falls on our D&D night so, as there is and always will be a Del-shaped hole at the table, we will be all celebrating and remembering our friend with good beers, cheeses, cooked meats and baklava. All the stuff he liked. 

I am sure it will be a lovely evening with plenty of laughter and probably a few tears. 

Friends together celebrating the life of one who is no longer with us.

Hug your loved ones and spend time with them whenever you can.

Take care. 

Boat drinks!