I do the same, though not through wisdom like you: By the lucky fluke of how I was born, my personality, I have ability, as my grandmother used to say of me, to see the sun even when hidden by clouds. There are people in the margins of my life who actually hold it against me that I haved managed to turn my personal Titanic a number of times - just before hitting the iceberg. I will not be sunk any time soon other than if the proverbial brick falls from the roof. My son would be so annoyed with me; therefore I have to tread carefully.

As to people crossing the road when faced with someone grieving: It is shameful. My god, Grannymar, if you think about it: How many times do people stand at a freshly dug grave, a funeral, listening to those wonderful words spoken by the priest/vicar: “In the midst of life we are in death.” Are they too stupid to actually take in the meaning of that sentence?

Luckily I am of a generation who had the privilege of seeing death happening first hand. One of my worst memories, only a few years ago, when I took my son to his English grandfather’s funeral and the sanctimonious mother of Grandad’s step grand children told me off by saying “I wouldn’t do that to my children” [take her twin daughters to the funeral]. Come again? You deny your child to say good bye to someone they cherrished - to spare them what exactly? The sooner the young learn that death is indeed an integral part of life the better.

U

I swore back then, my pain or grief in life was for me to work through and not inflict on everyone around me. My granny taught me to find a funny situation in all I do and now I constantly laugh at myself.

Lily - I am actually surprised at how well I am doing. It is wonderful to be pain free. I do have soreness from the swelling in my leg… but that will go in time.

Maureen - I hope your hubby recovers quickly. My advice is to prepare as much as possible in advance.

Daniel - There will be one final post in a couple of weeks time to cover the whole experience and let people know what I found helpful and useful.

Yes, “future”. Makes you linger over that word and its connotation. I always thought it something to look forward to; now I’ve decided to look backward. Luckily I have never been fool enough not to savour the moment.

Isn’t it interesting how happy one can be when only being back to Square One (in your case being able to walk/in mine to take my life back into my own hands)? It’s a sort of “Snake and Ladders” - If ever there was a game to teach you about life (other than Monopoly).

U

Maynard - Elly tells me that she is only doing what I taught her!

Baino - It is paying off already. I am human and do get tired, if I wake drained then the exercise is gentle. I also play music with a good strong beat to get me moving about the house.