Egypt4u

This Saturday at around 6.45 p.m. will be the first anniversary of something I wish had never happened. Whist trying not to dwell on it, nevertheless I was fully aware of the imminent date and what it would mean to me and was secretly making plans in my head to do all sorts of things to avoid being at home or allowing myself to sit around and recalling that awful date and time as I knew I would. I had said nothing to anyone, but considered taking little Annie out for a walk in the late afternoon and not returning home until later in the evening.

This morning while perusing the forums there came a knock on my door, it was my good friend and neighbour up the road, “We have the grand kids up this weekend, but thought that we might get a Chinese takeaway in on Saturday, so why don’t you come up around 6 p.m. and we can have a few drinks together, a few others will be there”

He then listed the other people and all were very good friends and neighbours who have been so kind to me in the past year. Now I am not daft and I know the reason behind this invitation and the significance of the start time, I also know that my mate is like me, tough on the outside and not one to show his feelings. I know why he is doing this and I know he would just pass this off as having a few beers with the lads, but I know differently.

So in a generally shitty world it is your friends that rally round you and offer comfort and support, it is those same friends who watch out for you and it is those same friends that you can never really thank because you cannot find the right words to do so. If you try they will just brush it off with embarrassment and make light of what they have done for you. We will no doubt sit around eating our meal, having a few drinks long into the evening and chatting together and no doubt the subject will raise its head, but it will be amongst friends and not just someone sitting alone and remembering. By the time I get back home I will be a bit tipsy and very tired and tumble into bed and soon it will be another new day and maybe that is their intention.

They will never know that I have told you all about them or the gratitude I feel for having such good friends and neighbours, but I felt I had to share this with you.

I was remembering the date as it is my Mam's birthday on 26th.

I think your friends/neighbours are being very thoughtful thinking of you at this time & for remembering & they are just the right friends to have around you, go on & enjoy yourself amongst them

If your not great of expressing your thank you's (though I don't believe that of you) take with you a bottle of wine or something of your choice & buy a "Thank you card To All My Friends"

PS My Mam's been gone now 12 yrs come August & the first Mother's Day that came around I thought "why should I stop giving Mother's Day card just because she's not here in person but always in my thought's & heart"

So I went searching for a card with just the right words of memories, every year since I've taken the same card & a little posie of flowers & placed beside her photo.

Please don't ever forget the friends you have on the forums too, Horus. Maybe we are not near enough to touch you physically but mentally I am sure we will all be absolutely smothering you with loving thoughts and mental messages! (I know I will!) Last year we were all devastated for you and felt totally lost because we couldn't physically help as we would have liked to do, so take Saturday in your so capable stride and look behind your neighbours and friends. You will see us all there in ghostly guise, giving you a and willing you on!

What a lovely thought thanks so much for that and I will keep that image in my mind at the weekend.
I should have made it clearer that when I said " it is your friends that rally round you and offer comfort and support" that of course it included all my friends here on the forum many of whom sent me personal messages and still do, distance is no object when people are wishing you well. to you all.