Dying

Death is strangely unknown but very familiar. It is a transition from life, as we know it, to... well, despite claims to the contrary, I don't think anyone really knows.
I returned to find that one of my friends has lung cancer. In the few weeks we have been here, her decline has been rapid. I saw her a few times at our local cafe for Saturday morning breakfast, and then suddenly she was in hospital - and probably not coming out.
This brought up all my fears about death - never the actual fact of it, but just that it would happen too soon. "I'm not ready to die - I still have too much to do."
Last Saturday I visited my friend in hospital. I went with quite a bit of trepidation. My experience there brought with it a sense of gratitude for the privelege of sharing this important time with her. She was so calm and present. And the process of dying was happening before my eyes.
People say that death is strange because one minute the person is there and the next they are not. I felt as though she was with us but also on her way.
I won't see Netty again. She has little time left and it is for her family. I wish her well on her journey and thank her for allowing me to share a part of it with her.

Moving Stuff

Moving!!! Oh! what joy!
It wasn't difficult to find a place - it is a freshly renovated duplex just a short walk from the beach and a lake. It will be the first time in my life that I have lived walking distance to the ocean, and I'm looking forward to that.
It wasn't difficult to make the application - although we had anticipated it would be, since we have no rental history between us. But some good friends acted as referees and the deal was sealed.

Then the fun began:
I don't remember ever being so physically sore and exhausted since...
Oh! I remember - since we packed up our life into the storage shed and went travelling. My husband commented that it is not surprising because he considered that everything probably still weighs the same now as then - if you discount the small amount that fed cockroaches in the interim.
Well, I could probably do with the exercise anyway.

But I didn't need things like:
The supposedly functioning dishwasher spewing water all over the house, when I decided to give some smeary glasses a rinse, and foolishly turned my back for 10 minutes.
Our brand new fridge is delivered and it is just 2 centimetres tall for the space provided in the kitchen.
The variety of plumbing that leaks in impossible places.

With all that said, it is kind of fun to unpack boxes and suddenly exclaim,
"I didn't know we kept that",
"I don't remember that", or,
"Why on earth did we keep that?"

And all the excuses we can find to go shopping...
...for all the things we didn't keep and now need.