Less than a year and a half ago the view from here was very different.

The dates on the three headstones in the foreground are separated by one of the hardest 6 weeks our family has had to experience. In that very short space of time my mother lost her last two sisters and her husband (our dad).
Recently a very good friend of mine lost their dad as well and other friends are on watch for one or the other of their parents. When it comes to dealing with loss and grief there are as many reactions and ways to manage feelings as you could imagine and everyone is different.

I can only really speak for myself but for I have discovered that taking time to learn about my dad and his homeland abroad has become very important. Allowing myself to both regret and then let go of all the questions I will no longer be able to ask; funny how they were questions I’d never even have thought to ask when he was still around. And lastly visiting the essence of him. Be it at his grave or in my head, not asking any questions, simply being.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 494, Alive in My Heart’ 1/5s f/18 ISO100 15mm