My family have lost two cousins in the last six weeks.
In an ill-judged attempt to lighten up that opening, the innate (and probably regrettable) humourist in me goes back to the old joke about how losing one can be put down to misfortune, but losing two is starting to seem like carelessness.
Both of the cousins were ladies, one in her late 60s and the other just 65.
For various reasons, I was brought up in fairly close contact with both of them: the first because her family were physically the nearest relatives we had when we were growing up, the second because her family had a large semi-rural property and we spent many an hilarious Christmas holiday staying with them.
Both ladies were individuals with a capital I.
The first, the daughter of my parent’s cousin (someone brighter than me can work out what the official relationship is), was an outspoken lady who told it like it was. Not in any kind of bad way – you were just left in no doubt where she stood.
The second, the daughter of my father’s sister, was also direct but with one totally unusual feature – in all the 65 years I knew her I never ever heard her say a bad word about anyone. Ever. At all. No matter what the provocation, and believe me she sure had some!
And she also seemed to come with the most amazing boundless energy and tremendous enthusiasm for everything she touched.
Both ladies died extremely suddenly, with no warning of their imminent departure.
We had bumped into the first cousin as we were heading into a local mall on a wet Saturday. We hadn’t seen her for maybe a couple of years so we took the opportunity for a sit down over a cup of morning coffee and a bite of something that I can’t remember now.
But the great pleasure of seeing her and catching up sticks in my mind.
A few weeks later, she collapsed and died.
The second died a week or so ago as the crow flies. Some of the family had gathered together at a family event over a long weekend. We had played garden cricket and quoits, chatted and caught up, than consumed a wine or two and some barbeque and gone our separate ways at the end of it. As usual, she was the life and soul – chatting brightly with everyone, enthusiastically cricketing, helping with food etc.
Three days later she collapsed and died.
And both of these ladies, for their individual reasons, will be sorely missed by the wider family.
Now I don’t intend this to be a sackcloth and ashes piece about loosing relatives. It happens, and reportedly no-one gets out alive.
But what I have become acutely aware of is the assumptions we make.
There is an accounting assumption that says that the company being accounted is a “going concern” that will remain and continue to operate and function as it is now.
Which is fine for companies.
But people may not.
And that is especially true as we age.
You cheerily say to loved ones “see you later” or similar as you part, with the assumption that they will still be there the next time, still going strong, albeit a bit older and greyer or whatever.
But the last six weeks have brought home very clearly that the pleasure of seeing them again may not be the case.
So my recommendation to you is that when someone goes away from you, before you part take the opportunity to give them a big hug. And let them know just what their existence means to you.