They always come in 3's!!

Where to begin??

Firstly, there was the sudden death of friend and mentor, Stuart Tasker.

Secondly, the suicide of my old school buddy.

Now, my cousin Silvia who is battling a very aggressive Cancer and I visited a couple of weeks ago in hospital, finally passed away Tuesday. I say "finally" because I saw how the cancer had just ravaged her body and it was slowly killing her spirit and will to live. I suppose you must get to a point in your suffering when you say, "Okay, fine!! Had enough. Medicine hasn't advanced this much to actually KILL what's killing me!" You go through the stages of grief for yourself and hopefully those you leave behind will be as much at peace as you are.

I remember this feeling when Nonna died. I was painfully slow because first it was her body that gave in and then many years later her spirit. When her body began to fall apart (literally) we saw first hand how this terribly brave and determined woman was reduced to a dependent waif. And that, in the end, I think, killed her. She was our only grandparent and we thought she'd always be there...but not, if that makes sense.

But Nonna died at 94. Silvia was 41.

Silvia never married or had children and I think she regretted that part. She was happy but saw her brothers and her cousins marry and have children (well, most of us anyway). She always came to the kids' baptisms and birthdays and never once did I hear her regret the way her life had turned out. Maybe to her cousins on her Mum's side, but not us. I guess we really weren't that close.

Balance this extreme emotional time with the absolute ELATION (I love that word) of Rainer starting at AEIOU this week. He's settled in really well and I'm already starting to bond with the other Mums. I guess I know we're all in it for the long haul so we may as well get along!! One of the Mums is already planning a family BBQ at her house!!

A common goal will unite the most unlikely people.

I have more good news. I feel like a de-facto parent here. An ex-student, Matt Zeremes, was featured in the Weekend Australian Magazine on the weekend. I knew he'd moved to Sydney and was on TV a few times (Blue Heelers and All Saints) as well as writing and producing some short films. Well his latest, Burke and Wills, got rave reviews at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's going to get a limited release in Australia and I hope it gets some release here in Brisbane. He's a beautiful soul and deserves all the success in the world. (bad blogger won't let me upload the article - will try another day)

I hope that's all for the moment. Just had to capture this moment on blogger so I don't forget.

BE STRONG.