Just got some very bad news ..

[SandyB]

I'm at the moment in shock ... a  good friend of mine has just lost her only  son 22 yrs old , he was shot in a hold up  in a restaurant  that he was working at in Gauteng ..  currently trying to process  it ..what to say ?? words   seem so futile , but yes I have learnt that if they with good intent  they leave an imprint  that helps later .. to me actions always count ..  yes I will be there  in  thought , actions and presence ..  I recall her son the awkward child .. the rebellious sullen  15 yr old .. and then   while helping her through a difficult time .. giving  Christopher  lifts  to school in Pinelands  in his matric year ...   the last time I saw him ... now  suddenly becoming a level   headed  young man .. and yes  learning to really  love ,appreciate   and  support his  mother  who had largely raised him on her own ..   striking out on his own  , and now its no more ... my heart is  sore ...

[Rhona]

Oh Sandy - I'm so very sorry to hear about your friend......sometimes words seem useless and only one of these will do  .

[SandyB]

Sad thing Rhona  is   the mother is  one of the triplet sisters  of the very friend David i'm having this awful impasse with ..  I have phoned Diana  she  distraught  and yes looking to me for support ...  do i have the strenght ...  yes  I do  , yes i dont ... the old adage of " you pain is my pain "  ...   I have also phoned   David  to give strength  and to pass on condolence to the rest of the family ..... shit deal  cos the first thing that came to mind is  that it may be  that a crisis like this  will  bring him to realisation that life is so fragile , and  that we should always value each other and be as unconditional as  our values allow us ..

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

As Rhona says no words...
So young and just such a senceless tragedy.......hang the bastards.
Two of my 3 children have been held up in retaurant robbery's....I say thank-you L*rd they still with me.

[SandyB]

Been there .. survived the  hijackings  etc .. . a neighbour just been there as well ..  lifes fragile ..  I apply it in friendships .. even if we  have not had contact for  yonks .. when you get together again its as though it was yesterday ... gratitude  for what we have ...

[Michael Alexander]

Sorry to hear about your friend;s burden Sandy......

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Sad news SandyB - strength to your friend, you, Paul and David xxx

[Bertie Horak]

Sorry to hear, Sandy! Thinking of you....

What's going on?  Old Oranjemunder, Sandra Faul's parents were attacked in their home, fortunately survived.  Patient of mine was in the middle of TWO armed robberies within 4 hours in Cape Town last week, then attempted hijacking same afternoon....
What happened to humanity?

[Skinny]

  for the bad news that you got. Iam thinking of you and Paul and during these trying times remember that we are here for you.
Lotsa Love.
K

[SandyB]

Thanks ...   

[SandyB]

Well it was a service to remember ... I dont know how David  can do  it , this was his nephew that he had grown so fond of .. as a RC deacon , he did for Diana as he did for  Jonno  with the  loss of  both his parents , for me with my loss  of Jonno  , to be close to folk and to be able  to officiate a memorial service , that aside  do all the organising , sadly so I see my friend age each time he  does this out of the goodness of his heart , pulling strength from  god knows where but  it takes its toll ..
The Chapel was crowded with Christophers  friends, family , friends of  family .. not many dry eyes .. many tributes by friends and family ,,,
For me I been  to quite a few  funerals since John went ,  it  picks at scabs  each time  but  I get stronger with each one  .. Paul first  one since that time . We all knew Christopher , him not so close , but yes  for him first time a revisiting to a year and half ago .. he was very  wobbly and cut up ..
Got home afterwards .. feeling very tired and drained .. have had a good sleep , pick up the threads . and carry on ... my  place now is to be there for Diana cos as we all know once all the fuss is over  most get on with their lives  , and  yes she will then  feel very alone  while trying to process her loss which will take time ..
It always takes me back to a line of words from the Hymn " abide  with me "  the  line  being ... " when all  helpers fail  and comforts flee , Lord abide with me "   she will feel that ...