Rodney and Keith
Once again the side of life that we all try to ignore has raised its ugly head. Yet, it should not come as a real surprise as eventually, it happens to every one of us. Unfortunately, human life has not yet reached the point of immortality no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise. It is no shock that someone dies as we will all die eventually. No, what is the shock is the why’s and the when’s, reasons that are for the most part, still a mystery even to the greatest Minds of the World.
Would we be better off if we knew beforehand the exact moment of our deaths and maybe even the reason for it? Could we spend a lifetime preparing for such an eventuality and be mentally prepared to accept it when it comes? I seriously doubt that any of us could be that strong knowing that at such and such time today or tomorrow, next week or next year, we will draw our last breath on this Earth especially if the reason for our death is anything less than genteel.
The reason for these morbid thoughts is the news of the death of Rodney Lewis, a former Board Member of our local Pond Society. Rodney passed on July 4, a little over six months after the death of his partner Keith Neuse, whose demise in December of last year caught us all by surprise. Rodney had held up well following Keith’s death and last month had opened up his pond as a part of the Members Only Pond Tour. Rodney was at the last meeting on June 18 and appeared to be in good health and good spirits.
Rodney’s passing is a real shock to us all because of the unexpectedness of it. We were not prepared for this news because as far as we knew, Rodney was in good health for a seventy something man. He wasn’t sick at least that we knew of so how could he die without us having some warning?
For those of you who would like to believe in such things, Rodney has now joined up with Keith to spend the rest of their very existence together and we wish them much happiness. For the cynics among us, who is going to be next on the list. Whoever it may be, I hope they will not be so inconsiderate as to pass on without letting us know beforehand to lessen the shock. It brings home to us all that life is so fickle. Here today and gone tomorrow.
Preparedness is everything. Few have that opportunity…
To read the original blog for Keith, use this link
Written 7/6/2018
Some people are given time to say to goodbye when they are diagnosed with an incurable illness. I would very much prefer a quick and painless death but I do understand wishing there was some kind of warning…
Only because it is such a shock to the system and it brings home just how vulnerable we all are…
I am very sorry on the passing of your friends Rodney and Keith Francis. Losing a friend is unbearable…especially if it is a sudden departure to everyone 🙁
The suddenness is the shock part especially when it is unexpected…
How painful. My sincere condolences.
Thanks
Very sad to see this. It’s very hard to lose a friend especially one you’ve know for some time. Unfortunately as we get older we see more and more people slip away. I’m beginning to understand how my mother must have felt as she reached her 96th year when nearly all of her generation in our family and most of her friends back in England had gone.
Another one of the problems of growing older. What is worse is when people younger than you die especially if they are close friends. Makes you wonder why you are still living…
Sorry about the passing of your friend.
More of an acquaintance through the Pond Society. Thanks for commenting