Changing times

On Monday 29th August last, my father passed away. Having suffered deteriorating health throughout this year, he was admitted to hospital in June. Upon discharge, he valiantly battled his worsened mobility and managed to enjoy a holiday to his favourite Dutch island, Vlieland. However, he had been forced to give up his involvement with the local church, and that prompted a further decline. Following a collapse at home in August, he was admitted to hospital again. I was recalled from Scotland to see him, as prospects were poor. He was pleased to see me, and we were able to have a good chat. When I left after the third visit, he held on to my hand a little longer and had an anxious expression on his face. He knew we would not see each other again. Five days later, on August 29th, the call came: he had quietly slipped away. 

My dad was aged 88, and was predeceased by his two brothers and his wife of 49 years, who had died in 2008. The funeral took place on September 3rd from the church that he had been an active member of for nearly 60 years. The interment was in the forest cemetery, beside his wife. After 14 years, they were back together again. 

Another five days later, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away, aged 96. She had been on the throne for 70 years, last June, and most British people have only known her as their monarch. Upon her death, her eldest son became king: Charles III, and his wife Camilla became Queen Consort. 

Everything is changing. Tomorrow is September 11th, the 21st anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. I'll post my customary commemorations of Norberto Hernandez and Dwayne J Collman. To those who lost loved ones in that atrocity, it will seem only yesterday.