Mortality

[DrMJA]

During my many years living in Thailand, we tend to make friends, many not from our country, and they can sometimes be casual, sometimes close, and some as close as family. The interesting part is that you learn about the universal struggles for us here as foreigners and at times the wrestling with what we left behind at home in search of ourselves or our dreams. 

For me, this past week losing a friend who had been here 20+ years married with a child, had a tough time his last few years on this earth.

First diagnosed with kidney cancer and the subsequent removal of the kidney, followed by diagnoses of brain cancer, to which in the end he succumbed.

So, I found myself struggling with my mortality. This year 2024 has been particularly tough, losing my parents, daughter, and now a friend.

The realization that life is bitterly short, and we need to enjoy as much time enjoying ourselves as we can -while we can.

Rest In Peace, Phil 

[Baht Simpson]

I KNOW NO ONE'S GOING TO SHOW ME EVERYTHING

WE ALL COME AND GO UNKNOWN

EACH SO DEEP AND SUPERFICIAL

BETWEEN THE FORCEPS AND THE STONE

 

- Joni Mitchell

[impulse]

Condolences to the OP and to the guy's family. 

 

It sucks to lose a good friend, especially living overseas where the good ones don't exactly grow on trees.

 

[tmd5855]

Been Thailand since 2004 working offshore, for tax reasons spent most of my leave in Thailand, on December 29th, 2014, stepped out of a helicopter for the last time aged 59 and retired.

 

Mortality becomes a thought in the back of your head more and more as more of your age group leave this world, friends and work colleagues in ever rapid succession..

 

Lost my youngest boy in 2016, then work colleagues started dropping off the radar, 2020 my best mate in the UK found dead in his bed, former pupils at my old high school no one left from my years 1967-72.  Girlfriend I met in 2015, never put a foot wrong so married her 7 years ago (20170 so she can get a widows pension from my private pension when I hit the buffers.

Wifes Mum has died, ex father-in-Law (Good man) has passed and now one of her three sisters has terminal cancer, ex sister -in-Law same age sudden death, two uncles passed.

 

Went back UK, March/April for my remaining son's wedding, he took me to a few of my old locals, no one left there, if alive housebound and invalidated.  How am I still alive, wonder myself!!

 

Living here in Thailand out in the sticks as a near teetotaler, never smoked, eat Thai food and my wife drags me to the hospital every 4 weeks for blood tests, have a couple of 'Sports' bikes I ride too fast, have 8 dogs remaining from our initial rescued 11, 4 remaining are GSD's.  Love DIY, love my dogs and my wife and knocking on the door of 70yrs old.

 

I think I have been bloody lucky.  All farangs around me are all gone now, I am the only known farang for miles and miles.