What are you doing today?

Scored some good eats, drove around the corner to the point, sat on the roof of Jeep, and saw an amazing sunset ...

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A cousin is very much on my mind.

Around a fortnight ago, I received word from Decent Brother, (who is - was - his godson) who had phoned me to let me know the news, as he, himself, had just been informed of the diagnosis by my cousin's estranged sister.

In turn, last Tuesday, I received an email from the actual family of the cousin in question to let me know that he had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and that "time was short".

I hadn't wished to contact them prior to that, as "technically" I hadn't been (formally) informed of the deadly diagnosis, and one always prefers to be discreet and dignified and tactful and respectful around death - anyway, once notified, I was immediately in touch with them.

Well, time was very short, and the poor chap - who had only received word of the extent of the return (he had first been diagnosed in 2019, and had recovered after treatment) and spread of the cancer - a fortnight ago - passed away (at home, fortunately) this morning.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
A cousin is very much on my mind.

Around a fortnight ago, I received word from Decent Brother, (who is - was - his godson) who had phoned me to let me know the news, as he, himself, had just been informed of the diagnosis by my cousin's estranged sister.

In turn, last Tuesday, I received an email from the actual family of the cousin in question to let me know that he had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and that "time was short".

I hadn't wished to contact them prior to that, as "technically" I hadn't been (formally) informed of the deadly diagnosis, and one always prefers to be discreet and dignified and tactful and respectful around death - anyway, once notified, I was immediately in touch with them.

Well, time was very short, and the poor chap - who had only received word of the extent of the return (he had first been diagnosed in 2019, and had recovered after treatment) and spread of the cancer - a fortnight ago - passsed away (at home, fortunately) this morning.
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My condolences to you and the family.
 
ericwn said:
My condolences to you and the family.
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Thank you.

That particular cousin was the god of our childhood; we were kids, while he was a handsome, accomplished, charismatic, confident, urbane, and very warm, young man, and a young man, who, somewhat surprisingly, got on extremely well with children, and was comfortable with children, and no, not in any creepy or sleazy way.

Years later, he was a very warm and loving father to his own children.

Decent Brother has just been on the phone for the best part of the past two hours - my cousin was his godfather, after all, - and we were recalling stuff such as the intense and extraordinarily competitive games of Monopoly, which we used to play with this cousin (he would have been in his early to mid 20s at the time, - whereas, we were kids who were still in primary school) who sometimes arrived to stay with us for a few days in the period immediately after Christmas.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Thank you.

That particular cousin was the god of our childhood; we were kids, he was a handsome, accomplished, charismatic, confident, urbane, and very warm, young man, and a young man, who, somewhat surprisingly, got on extremely well with children, and was comfortable with children, and no, not in any creepy or sleazy way.

Years later, he was a very warm and loving father to his own children.

Decent Brother has just been on the phone for the best part of the past two hours - my cousin was his godfather, after all, - and we were recalling stuff such as the intense and extraordinarily competitive games of Monopoly, which we used to play with this cousin (he would have been in his mid to late 20s at the time, - whereas, we were kids who were still in primary school) who sometimes arrived to stay with us for a few days in the period immediately after Christmas.
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My condolences. Tough time for families to lose people. Roll on January I say.
 
Apple fanboy said:
My condolences. Tough time for families to lose people. Roll on January I say.
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Very tough.

His kids (all adults now) lost their mother (who was a lovely person) in tragic circumstances over twenty years ago - she was a teacher, who died of a sudden heart attack while on holiday, she had just made a cup of tea, one morning, and collapsed - leaving him with four kids, aged from just under a year, to ten years of age.

And, so, he raised his four children, - financially, he was fine, he had his own successful business, he worked in the travel trade - for the best part of a decade, until he met another woman, several years later, who was also, (as, my parents had thought, and as Decent Brother and I both still think) an absolutely lovely person, whom he married, very happily, and who became an adored stepmother to his four children.

He used to say (and said so on several occasions to Decent Brother and myself) that he was very lucky with the women in his life - and he was - but he was also a very warm, and generous person, with a great capacity for love, who liked food and drink, and football and music and laughter.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Very tough.

His kids (all adults now) lost their mother (who was a lovely person) in tragic circumstances over twenty years ago - she was a teacher, who died of a sudden heart attack while on holiday, she had just made a cup of tea, one morning, and collapsed - leaving him with four kids, aged from just under a year, to ten years of age.

And, so, he raised his four children, - financially, he was fine, he had his own successful business, he worked in the travel trade - for the best part of a decade, until he met another woman, several years later, who was also, (as, my parents had thought, and as Decent Brother and I both think) an absolutely lovely person, whom he married, very happily, and who became an adored stepmother to his four children.

He used to say (and said so on several occasions to Decent Brother and myself) that he was very lucky with the women in his life - and he was - but he was also a very warm, and generous person, with a great capacity for love, who liked food and drink, and football and music and laughter.
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You portray a very lovely picture of your extended family. Outside of my parents who I've not seen much of over the last 5-6 years I've not seen any extended family since my Grandmothers funeral which was 20 years ago. No big falling out, just never been close with any of them. Never spoken to them on the phone or anything. I've not seen or spoken to my sister in what must be getting close to a decade. I expect the next time I do will be one of my parents funerals.
 
Your cousin indeed sounds like a lovely person, SS -- my condolences to you and to the extended family.

I haven't seen any of my cousins -- there aren't many -- for years and probably none of us would recognize each other if there were an accidental encounter on the street. None of them live near me and didn't when we were all growing up, either.
 
Apple fanboy said:
You portray a very lovely picture of your extended family. Outside of my parents who I've not seen much of over the last 5-6 years I've not seen any extended family since my Grandmothers funeral which was 20 years ago. No big falling out, just never been close with any of them. Never spoken to them on the phone or anything. I've not seen or spoken to my sister in what must be getting close to a decade. I expect the next time I do will be one of my parents funerals.
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Yes, I suppose I do, and, in fairness, there is a lot of truth in that story.

However, he was estranged somewhat (actually, completely, for several years) from his sister.

But - fortunately for everyone - not least thanks to my cousin's lovely wife who encouraged (and facilitated) a reconciliation, they did manage to meet and talk - and yes, reconcile - before my cousin died.

He had been very close to my parents, who had played a sort of mentoring and supporting role for him when he was a young man.

In fact, looking through his emails today, reading one he wrote to me shortly after learning of my mother's death, he commented on that:
"Your family home was very much a second home to me during the late 60s and early 70s.
Both Charlie and Phil were the easiest people in the world to discuss all my cares and worries with during those times. They weren't an uncle and aunt, they were my close friends and confidents."


Clix Pix said:
Your cousin indeed sounds like a lovely person, SS -- my condolences to you and to the extended family.
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Yes, he was.

We adored him when we were children.

He had great heart and great warmth, and a great capacity for love; that means a lot in a human being.
 
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I have set my alarm clock for 6 a.m. No, I don’t remember the last time I saw 6 a.m. But my bff called today and asked if I would drive with her up to Troy tomorrow so she can meet a student. What are friends for, right?
 
Alli said:
I have set my alarm clock for 6 a.m. No, I don’t remember the last time I saw 6 a.m. But my bff called today and asked if I would drive with her up to Troy tomorrow so she can meet a student. What are friends for, right?
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Well I forgot to unset mine. So despite it being a late night and being off work today, I was rudely awakened. Anyway I got back to sleep and didn’t wake up until 8 when Mrs AFB put some washing on.
Now off for a slightly damp walk. At least the wind has died down.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Well I forgot to unset mine. So despite it being a late night and being off work today, I was rudely awakened. Anyway I got back to sleep and didn’t wake up until 8 when Mrs AFB put some washing on.
Now off for a slightly damp walk. At least the wind has died down.
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But, it is set to rise up again, as a storm warning is in place from tomorrow.

Received a lovely email from my cousin's genuinely lovely wife (well, widow now, poor thing) this morning, as if she doesn't have more than enough on her plate just now.

She is a lovely person - well, he knew that, and he always said - with great feeling - that he was a very lucky man with the women in his life.
 
Seconds before taking off my watch to go to bed last night, BFF called to cancel the drive.
 
@Apple fanboy will appreciate this; but, on a Monday night in December, (with an Arsenal defeat, no less) and a bit of online, er, exchanges, - not a night for wine, a nasty storm approaching, nothing, but nothing, beats a mug of piping hot tea and a chocolate biscuit, (or two).
 
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