This is a year 12 class I had 3 years ago - they're now all about 21 or 22. The single photo is Lindsay (seen also in the group photo) who recently lost his life in a rock climbing fall.As well as teaching Lindsay, I know his family well, his mother in particular. He was the youngest of 3 children, born when his sister (friend of my daughter's) was 4 years old. Such a huge loss and waste of a young life, how will his family and close friends ever get over it? We, whose lives have thankfully been untouched by such a tragedy, can only imagine the depth of their grief and suffering.We will go to Lindsay's funeral later in the week and try and share some of that burden of sorrow.
Meanwhile, my grandmother continues to live on at the amazing age of 107. She was born in April, 1901 and led an eventful and active life. A slightly eccentric person, she was wonderfully creative and enterprising all her productive life. Now she lies in her bed at her care centre and can do nothing. Sometimes her carers lift her into her special chair but still she does nothing. She barely communicates, won't talk, resists food, she doesn't seem in pain - but she won't leave us either.My mother (86 years) feels so sorry for this mother who once ruled the roost, such a vibrant and commanding person, reduced to this unlife. We can only wish her a merciful release some time soon. Meanwhile another family is left to wonder why their beautiful son, grandson, brother, boyfriend, cousin was taken from them on the verge of adulthood.
