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Epilogue

           

As we end our lives we ask ourselves, don’t we, how was it, our journey through, how did we do?  Shakespeare said it all in his sonnet about the seven ages of man.  Francis and I are now at the “sans everything’ stage but hope for more years of good life together.  I look back at my travels since childhood, into middle age, and now old age, and all things considered I have had a happy run.  But I have also had lots of mountains to climb as I am an over-anxious person and that makes many difficulties living an ordinary, peaceful life.  I have had two cancer operations, one breast cancer, the other lung cancer, but I am still alive and eighty-two.  I have three delightful daughters, Tiffany, Eliza and Jessica, plus two glorious grandchildren, all of whom have supported me in many ways over the years. I love them very dearly and know that they love me. 

I have some very good old friends, one or two who I went to school with, and several I have known all my life.  Those of us left, and I have lost eight friends to cancer, keep in touch, talk and laugh together; sometimes on the telephone or on FaceTime. We have exceptionally nice neighbours who have been very supportive in lockdown, shopping for us or generally helping us with those things we can no longer do for ourselves.  And they still do.  And for the last nearly four years I have had Francis as my soulmate, my friend, and loving companion.

 

What have I learnt that may be useful to pass on to you?  Simply this.   That the Good Book and The Beatles know the truth about love.  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Love is all you need.