![\"cid:001201cb5021$b46175e0$0100007f@xaviers\"](\"https:\/\/ultrazaps.com\/terryblogg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cid001201cb5021dollarb46175e0dollar0100007fxaviers.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAlan, Andy,Ann, Audrey,<\/p>\n
Carol, Christabel, Clarence,Connie, CorinneF,<\/p>\n
Florence,Genevieve, Geraldine, Ian, Joan,<\/p>\n
Lats, Loo, Louella,<\/p>\n
MarisaM, Merle, Mishka, Namita, Nanda,NatashaS,<\/p>\n
Nicole,NimishaB, Nimma,<\/p>\n
Oleen, Owen,<\/p>\n
Praveen, Preethi,<\/p>\n
Renny, Rose, Rosita,<\/p>\n
Savia, Shaziya, Shona,\u00a0 Stanny, sujataS,<\/p>\n
utsha, Valerie, Varsha,VibhaR, Walty,Zaitoon,<\/p>\n
Thought I would share something with you. About my own parents.<\/p>\n
Briefly – so that you might understand what I have written – my mother suffered from schizophrenia for about 17 years till she passed away. Towards the end of her life she also had a paralysing stroke… and a little later she fell down and fractured her hip. Mind and body all twisted and messed up she died a few years later.<\/p>\n
My father faithfully looked after her all through her illness often on the edge of helplessness knowing that nothing would get better for her.<\/p>\n
After her death he lived alone ( He refused offers to live with any of his children) and managed much of his life the way he wanted to. He passed away early one morning, alone in his house which he prided himself having and which meant everything to him….<\/p>\n
I wrote this a little after he died.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
photo\/montage : terryq<\/p>\n
Beyond horizons\u00a0quietly gone<\/p>\n
They’re gone, both gone across the skies<\/p>\n
not much ado, quick gently flown<\/p>\n
beyond the distant horizon<\/p>\n
beyond the see and comfort touch<\/p>\n
of\u00a0hearth and home and family.<\/p>\n
No more the helplessness of age<\/p>\n
or illness, freed from\u00a0cramping bonds<\/p>\n
of paralysed and shrinking forms<\/p>\n
just memories\u00a0now left behind<\/p>\n
of struggled lives so simply led<\/p>\n
of little things spontaneous shared.<\/p>\n
No miracles or magic potions<\/p>\n
fortune struck or Midas touched<\/p>\n
just day to day the blessings seen<\/p>\n
and lived just quiet gracefully.<\/p>\n
Not much they had,\u00a0so little\u00a0asked<\/p>\n
and yet like gospel loaves and fish<\/p>\n
there was enough for all to have<\/p>\n
and\u00a0something more for\u00a0days to come.<\/p>\n
No ostentatious caring signs<\/p>\n
or banners waved to celebrate<\/p>\n
successes, birthdays, jubilees;<\/p>\n
these taken on in simple stride<\/p>\n
and life went on contentedly.<\/p>\n
But storms there were wild wretched times<\/p>\n
For years when spectres, ugly forms<\/p>\n
did scar the peace and comfort zones<\/p>\n
when\u00a0she in other worlds did live<\/p>\n
and he stood by in faithful care<\/p>\n
attending broken body, mind<\/p>\n
till blessing came in peace of death<\/p>\n
and\u00a0she moved on \u00a0to other skies.<\/p>\n
He waited back now patiently<\/p>\n
his own life lived the way he wished<\/p>\n
dependent on no one but\u00a0self<\/p>\n
with now and then of others aid<\/p>\n
unasked for, quietly received<\/p>\n
while\u00a0filling life’s big in-betweens<\/p>\n
with little\u00a0household potterings.<\/p>\n
Oft\u00a0from his lonely balcony<\/p>\n
he waved a cheer to passers by<\/p>\n
their ups and downs to him denied<\/p>\n
except when in necessity<\/p>\n
he wandered down uneven roads<\/p>\n
for haircut or some marketing.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0when the summons came he left<\/p>\n
the way he lived with little fuss<\/p>\n
a last salute to all he\u00a0 was<\/p>\n
and all he had, now left behind<\/p>\n
for other\u00a0home awaiting him<\/p>\n
beyond the walls of need and doubt<\/p>\n
beyond horizons far across<\/p>\n
to heaven’s mansions unconfined.<\/p>\n
From there, celestial balcony<\/p>\n
together now in blessed state<\/p>\n
they sit and watch our ups and downs<\/p>\n
across the\u00a0rough uneven roads<\/p>\n
that we ourselves must walk\u00a0awhile<\/p>\n
come\u00a0rain\u00a0or sunshine, song\u00a0or grief.<\/p>\n
They know that good seeds\u00a0have been sown<\/p>\n
and subtled strengths with needs will rise<\/p>\n
bear witness to their worth now shown<\/p>\n
through\u00a0lives hard lived and challenge times.<\/p>\n
They did the best they knew, they gave<\/p>\n
the best they had in heart and kind<\/p>\n
perhaps fell short just now and then<\/p>\n
but care was what they had in mind.<\/p>\n
And when their days to sunset came<\/p>\n
with lives well lived and tasks all done<\/p>\n
they\u00a0lightly slipped away in grace<\/p>\n
to\u00a0home beyond\u00a0new horizons….<\/p>\n
terryq: april, 2003<\/p>\n