Prompt

What is the last thing you learned?

Everyone we meet leaves a piece of them with us. I knew that before, for sure. But I was reminded of it this week, when a relatif passed away. Yesterday, his ashes were scattered and I was by far more affected than I thought I would be. I cried a lot. Because of the eulogies but also because of the songs that went along. Dire Straits – brothers in arms, I barely kept it together as soon as it started. It’s always an emotional song for me, but yesterday, it pulled the rug from underneath my feet quite unexpectedly. Mark Knopfler and Van Morrison – last laugh, Amalia cried a lot while hearing this one, me too. The last laugh of someone you love, remembering that is quite painful. And the last song that was played was Monty Python’s always look on the bright side of life. It made us all grin.

Then the ashes were scattered. It was the first time I witnessed this. And as if Dennis would have known that the ceremony was over, heavens opened up and it began pouring, not raining or drizzling, pouring. His last will (and it was written down) was that he wanted us to have a pint of Guinness to celebrate his life, which we did at an Irish Pub.

I often wrote about hugs and how they have impacted me. I hope that my hugs can do the same. I don’t want or need to know if they do, but yeah, it would be nice if I left some impact too.

Sometimes it feels as if I go unnoticed all the time. And most often, that is very okay. But let me share one of my deepest secrets: the writing, the social media… all of it comes from the want of leaving a trace. At the end of my life, I want people to say that at least I was visible. Be it with pics of vinyl albums on IG, or with nonsense on Twitter, or with the many words I wrote on this very blog.

That thought brings me back to what I learnt yesterday: everyone we meet leaves a piece of them with us. ❤️💜❤️💜