Denial - not the river in Egypt

As far as I can make out, not much has changed in Norwich, apart from the chippy down the road changing hands. People seem to be the same. Busy, stressed, working, loving, living. Boy is continuing to be 13, the cat is continuing to be odd. But everything has changed.

I don't know how to write about it without being bleak or depressing. This is actually the third time I've written this paragraph. Despite it all, it isn't really about pain. It's about hope. The realisation that this life we've been given is so precious, that every decision about how we spend our time, ought to be weighed more carefully. Whatever your spiritual leanings, you'll never really know what waits on the other side until the very end. Therefore, it makes sense to live this life well and hope for the best. If it is pointless and death is a void into which we fall and are lost to eternity, then at least these moments spent together will not be wasted time.

I really don't believe this is the case. I have attended the deaths of both my mother and my step-father; after their deaths, their bodies were like the clothes I leave on my bedroom floor. I believe there is something more. Knowing that, I still don't want to lose the chance to live well.

I know St Valentines Day is a commercialised event, to up the sales of gooey cards, roses and chocolates. But quite frankly, there is so much pain and suffering in this world that any day dedicated to the people we love has got to be good.

Money no longer is the be all and end all to me. It's now about time. Time is precious. I want to spend it with the people who I care about, and the people who care about me. I want my time to be spent doing fun things, nice things, creative things.

I now want to take the time to tell you how much I appreciate your dropping by. You've been an important part of my life for the last 8 or so months. Thanks. Happy Valentine's Day.