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Dan Hopkins's avatar

Thank you, Robert, that really touched me. I lost a close friend at the start of this year. A real spirit guide - I don't say that he died, rather, he jumped ship!

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Ken Grocott's avatar

That is a wonderful piece of writing - thank you. It caused me to reflect on my own friends who went too soon - painful but also life affirming. I’m glad you wrote it - please don’t take it down, it deserves to be widely read.

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Neil Strud's avatar

Wonderful. The whole time I was thinking of those I missed also that passed away. I met Robert at an early fully charged show at Silverstone when he was giving a young girl a presentation and found him to be a jolly lovely man! Thankyou for sharing that!

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Neil's avatar

Thanks for sharing Robert. This was a thought provoking note.

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Martin Schwoerer's avatar

This is lovely, your feelings come to life as do the people you miss. Also, it made me remember once again all the friends I have lost. In the worst case, I wasn't able to say goodbye or re-connect after being apart for a decade or two, and that makes me sad (similar to how you describe your experience of loss and regret).

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James Jeff Brookshaw's avatar

What a beautiful piece of writing there Robert! I struggle with mental health issues and the thought of my mother shuffling off fills me with dread, but, the way you talk about death so eloquently but calmly gives me some peace. Thankyou

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KAREN  BROOKMAN's avatar

Totally get this. For me the first major death in my life was my beloved Dad in 2021 from cancer - short time but hellish. It was physical pain for me not just mental. What I did find though, after learning to live with the grief (remembering my Dad couldn't put up a shelf straight even if he had a spirit level, selective hearing where my Mum was concerned and many other memories) that at the age of 50 it's about time I appreciate live, living in the moment more. I can lack focus at times and really struggled to relax. I'm still working on the relaxation thing but I have made a point of appreciating nature, sitting for a moment to take things in, not rushing around as much. It's a good thing to do - reflect on those we lost, not be morbid but allow ourselves to wallow a bit if we need, but definitely, appreciate the little things.

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Ian Nock's avatar

They do say that youth is wasted on the young, because they don't realise what they have or that they will lose it.

Morbid maybe.. but grab life.

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Susan's avatar

Beautiful reflections. Visited my university for the first time in years today. Remembering a great friend who died a few years later from a brain tumour, and a housemate, and a close friend from those days, who both some years later made the same tragic choice to end their lives. Partly why I try to tell people when I appreciate something they've done, because they might hear it a thousand times, but they might only ever hear it once and there may not always be another chance. I sought you out at Fully Charged in Farnborough to do just that. Incoherently I suspect!

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Richard fearn's avatar

Well that was a bit different. As it happened, I had a dream last night where my daughter appeared. Sadly she died of cancer 7 years ago at the age of 40. It was a terrible loss to us and I think about her every day. She has appeared in my dreams occasionally and usually in fairly matter fact situations. Last night was no exception, just her parking the car and greeting me as she always did. I awoke and fleetingly wondered where she’s living now, but the immediately realised she was never coming back. I long for those dreams where we’re together again.

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