Post Punk Kitchen Forum

A pedestrian died today on a main road traffic crossing in my local area. There's loads of speculation about how they were killed and it's pretty disturbing. There seems to have been a traffic pile-up around the scene it but I don't think anyone was hurt in that. All the buses have been diverted as the area will be closed to traffic for a while so the forensics teams can do their jobs.

I was woken up this morning by a call from someone very dear to me. This is someone with whom I have had a long and complex history; our relationship has been through many permutations, and at last we are simply the best of friends. For most of the past two years his partner, Christine, has been suffering from an aggressive form of bone cancer, and she has put up a truly remarkable fight. Unfortunately, she took a dramatic turn for the worse during the past few weeks, and they've had hospice in, while my friend and her parents have been spelling one another so someone would be with Christine round the clock. Today he brought his car in for a recall and went to work (at the museum where we used to be colleagues) for an hour while he waited, at which point he got That Call. I jumped out of bed and went to drive him the 20 minutes to their house, where Christine's devastated, exhausted parents and her newly vacated body awaited him. It was awful...as the day has worn on it seems more and more as if I dreamed the whole thing. I am grateful I was able to be there for him, but aghast that this has happened.

She was such a lovely, kind, positive person - a research librarian whose curiosity and enthusiasm knew no bounds, a generous and devoted daughter, aunt, and friend, and a woman who met a cancer diagnosis with no self-pity and a determination to do everything and see everyone she could in the time she had. In the past year alone she traveled all over the place, threw parties, kept up with friends, and never failed to ask after visiting friends' partners, kids, jobs, parents, etc., despite radiation, several rounds of chemotherapy, and diminishing physical strength.

I think of the stuff I complain about and feel humbled and ashamed. If nothing else, I'd like to hope that seeing the grace with which she handled this should remind me what a jerk I'd have to be not to appreciate everything right now: from the hot cup of tea at my elbow to the love of my family and friends, two-footed or four-footed alike. Christine was less than a month from her 43rd birthday, which is much too soon to have the clock run out, but what she did with the time she had was inspiring. In the days ahead I will try to help my friend, about whom I am actually extremely worried; it's been all about this for such a long time that I honestly don't know what he'll do once all the "arrangements," observations, and ceremonies have been dealt with. Anyway, I'm babbling - I guess I just needed to unload, and this seemed like a good place to do it. Thanks for "listening."

xoxoxo
D

you're a very good friend, Desdemona, i'm so sorry you lost her.

I'm very sorry for your and your friend's loss Des, but I'm also really glad that you got to have such a wonderful person in your life.

So very sorry for your loss, Desdemona. My eyes are welling up just reading that. Your friend sounds amazing. Hugs to you and her partner.

so so sorry for your loss, Desdemona. you're a super good friend and you'll be there for your friend once everything calms down to help him get through it. Hugs!

Many hugs for you, Desdemona. i am sorry for your loss.

i'm so sorry, Desdemona, for the loss you've had, the pain you're feeling, and the worry you have. All my love to you and those you hold dear <3

So sorry to hear this, Desdemona. My thoughts are with you and all of her loved ones.

So sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds as if she was an amazing person.

Desdemona I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, my thoughts are with you and your friend.

Worst thing for me is a bit more petty but Peace O' Pie just announced they're closing their Allston location (Only location, but possibly looking at new locations??). SAD.

I am so sorry for your loss Desdemona. You're a kind and wonderful friend. Many hugs to you and VoR.

Desdemona, I'm so sorry. Hugs.

Best wishes to your friend, Desdemona. Hugs to you. She sounds like such an inspiring person.

Hugs to you Desdemona.

I just got news this morning of my friend passing away - he was told about three weeks ago that his non-Hodgkins lymphona was terminal. It's so hard to imagine that this can happen to a 23 year old man, who 9 months ago was so vibrant and full of life.

Damn. That is horrible; more evidence of malevolent design. Please accept my sympathy. <3

Thank you <3

Desdemona, what a sad story. I am so sorry to you, your friend, and her family.

Desdemona & VeganMeredith, I'm so sorry for your losses. Sometimes the world truly sucks!

hugs xxx

ah desdemona I'm so sorry, that's awful.

my thing is: loosing my job as of saturday.
found out this morning.
excellent.

That sucks! I'm sorry.

Woke up with what I am fairly certain is an infected tear duct, and I forgot to do something important for work yesterday which I will have to suck up and do today and apologize profusely for.

My mom called me to tell me they found their macaw in a bad way (in spoilers because it's grisly) and they had to put him down.


It's so awful I can't function. I keep sicking up. This bird was my dads companion for over 30 years. My mom is in hysterics and my dad has gone off the deep end. He drove off and isn't answering his phone. We are worried he's going to hurt himself from grief and guilt. I'm 15 hours away and can't help. I feel like this is a nightmare I wake up from. I am the only person they have to talk to and I can barely handle this myself let alone help them process their grief. I keep seeing these images in my mind and I feel like I'm going crazy.

Thanks for listening. It helps just writing it down. I feel like he needs some kind of tribute or for people to grieve for him.

That's awful couroupita, I'm so sorry.

couroupita I'm so, so sorry to hear that. You said that your Dad panicked, however to me it says so much that he took it on himself to put an end to his companion's suffering. I've gone through that sort of situation in my mind before and it would take so much to do that. It shows a great amount of love.
I really hope that your Dad makes contact as soon as possible. Much love to you and your family.