Dying

Cheerful subject ?

It can be.

I've heard of someone who is dying of cancer. He's only different to the rest of us because doctors have identified something wrong that will lead to his death.

The rest of us are in the same boat but have no idea when or what will be the cause.

Does that mean that we all go about our daily life feeling depressed and glum?

Neither does he. Granted, living is actually painful but he is still determined to continue as he ever did, living to the full extent that he can.

So what might seem to be trivial little things, remain of paramount importance to him.

He has hobbies that are very important to him. We might see them as tinkering about in a workshop or garden. But getting an old washing machine that was well designed to run again smoothly. Or repairing a well made set of clothes.

"How do you match in some material to make a worn cuff smart?" could be the burning question in his life. The next week's work is all planned out . Or maybe the week after that when he feels better.

His life is all about what will happen in the future and the things that are going on in other people's life. Talk of illness goes to the background in favour of what can be done in spite of life's restrictions.

Which ignores the possibility that he may never see this Christmas.