A very long sad week!

I have been a very bad blogger in 2011.  In the first few years of my blog I blogged almost daily and had a great readership but these days I have been somewhat slack.  I guess life seems to get busier and faster with less time.   The time issue is somewhat worrying considering I am studying next year.  And no, I haven't registered yet.

I have been trying to sort out if my work can subsidise part of my studies as my degree is directly related to my work.  I plan on using my degree to expand what I do and be more effective and involved.   The real reason for the delay is my stupid techno issue.   Monday was the first day I could register.  I was all ready to go and couldn't get past step one.   I try to select the option, press enter, shout at the screen, point at the chosen icon but nothing.  I was somewhat discouraged as my whole degree is on-line and I couldn't do step one of the 10 step registration process.   Will employ husband to assist when he wakes up.

So part reason for the long week is the extreme business and all the events that seem to be part and parcel of this time of year.  5 late nights in one week makes me a tired girl.  The real reason is a broken heart though.  Last Saturday we lost one of very good friends in a motorbike accident.  It has been devastating to our friendship circle and our church.   A friend and I jokingly call our husbands Norman-no-Mates as they are both shy and not big minglers.   Its not actually true though and Gary does has friends but they are a very select bunch of guys who he cares about and spends time with.   He has 2 BF's in Somerset West and Aidan is one of them.   I am not going to say was in this post, just is.   Because Aidan is such a loud, funny, crazy, naughty, positive person, his dying has left this massive void and vacuum that has left his friends and family devastated.   He takes up 75% of the room and the rest of us occupy 25%.   No Aidan?   How can that be?  No Aidan in our church chirping from the back or playing poker on his i-pad on occasion.  No Aidan at our braais telling bad jokes and making us all laugh.  No Aidan in our weekly life group (our church has smaller groups hang out in the week) to keep us all from getting too serious or religious.  No.  Impossible.   His fun and bubbly wife with her loud laugh and his kids without him, oh its just so horribly sad.   

It was Gary's birthday last Sunday.   It was not a happy birthday, losing your BF the day before.  It was Aidan's 39th birthday yesterday and just another hard day in this journey of grief.  Once again my gratitude at having God in our lives is massive.  We all so want to comfort his wife and love her and make it better but we cannot.  Nothing we say or cook or do.  But Him, yes.  Only God can comfort her and strengthen her and carry her young kids when she just can't.   I am so proud of her, the strength and grace I suspected below that loud laugh is so evident.  

As always their is a lesson in the hard times.  He lived his life 100% and was not afraid to take risks or afraid to fail.  He reckoned if you try 10 things and fail at 4 you still have 6.  If you try 2 and succeed at both you still only have 2.   He enjoyed his life and was incredibly generous.  If his business did badly he gave.   If it did well, he gave.  He loved to give, money was just money to be given away and enjoyed, not stuck under his mattress.   He lived life large with no regrets and its how I want to live.   Aidan we miss you horribly and no one will ever be the same again.   xxx

PS:   no pic of our Aidan, feels just too personal to share.

Comments

[Julia]

I am so, so sorry for your loss. What a tragedy. I actually have no words.

RE: Unisa - their online registration is rubbish. If you eventually do get it right then it takes two weeks to register on their side which in turn causes delays with receiving your study material. My advice? Go to Unisa and register there. There are loads of computers AND people to help you and it's so quick. Try to do it this month still because if you go in January you will get the queues and the crowds. Good luck. Am also going to be registering soon.

[Karla B.]

Losing a loved one is never easy, no matter the time or manner. Praying that God's love will cover the wounds like a soothing and fragrant balm.

[tiah]

How hard. May the people you need and love help support you all during this time.

[BiancaW]

Mel - I know this feeling all too well. We lost 3 of our closest friends in a car accident in Decemer 1999. The grieving process is a long and difficult one. Only God can guide you through it. XXX

[Missy]

So sorry for your loss Mel. Celebrate his life though because it certainly sounds as though he lived it to the full. Praying for you all!

[Lindsay]

I am so sorry for your loss, we lost a very good friend in May this year! It rocked us, broke our hearts and we still cry about losing our Dave, a man who loved and lived life. No words make it better, the best thing we did was surround ourselves with people who loved him and knew him like we did. No birthday, dinner party even childrens party will ever be the same, we miss our Dave everyday. Strength for the days, weeks and months ahead. Remember to feel the pain and weep, it'll help the process. Much love x

[Anna]

I am sorry for your loss.

[Nike Free Run shoes]

Also, the information provided doesn't give enough detail like when machinery is going to be parked in front of a resident's driveway

[Debbie]

So sorry for your loss,Hubbie read about it through his biker websites.....condolences to all concerned

[A]

I'm so sorry, Mel. You will all be in my prayers.