Remembering.
It’s the 75th anniversary of V.E. day today and there is bunting everywhere. The street behind us have all moved into their front gardens and are having a socially distanced street party. The music is thumping away and I hear laughter. There is an eager d.j. on a microphone and children laughing.
The sun has been shining all day, a light breeze and dancing seagulls in the sky.
Our road is a little busier so there is no sitting outside in the spring sunshine here.
I didn’t make bunting, I drew it on the pavement outside with chalk. Coloured arms and a smudgy face.
We don’t really feel like joining in.
Myles’ brother will be cremated next week. It was sudden and quick.
He didn’t get to say goodbye. There wasn’t time. Cancer moves in that way, I know too well of that.
The sun shines on and the news can’t tell me enough how the lock down will be gradually eased and that it’s brilliant.
I see no good news yet, I see 30,000 dead.
I want to stop crying now.
Posted on May 8, 2020, in Uncategorized and tagged covid 19, covid diary, Drawing, Illustration, Life, lockdown, pandemic, quarantine life, Sketchbook. Bookmark the permalink. 18 Comments.
Doodlemum 
Oh Angie, I’m so very sorry. What a terrible and terrifying thing to happen. My love to you and yours xxx ❤
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Thank you Rose. ❤️
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❤
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I am so sorry for your loss. This seems terrible and sudden.
It’s been a long lock down with a big toll on people, and little to celebrate in 30000 dead. I think I match your mood, if I understand right.
VE Day felt misplaced to me. I don’t think the war felt the way we now re imagine it, the blitz spirit and all that. For many it was a weary time, though everyone’s story was unique. Two I knew well found freedom from petty oppression in the disruption brought by war, but of course they were the survivors. The lessons of VE Day to me are different to this celebration, it was the start of something important not its end. And we live that today.
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I agree with you and found celebration very hard to contemplate given the circumstances throughout the World, the dreadful death toll here and my own grief that I am experiencing presently. I had many mixed feelings too.
However, I couldn’t help but feel that it was important to mark the day for many reasons but not least among them, is the fact that so many people who lived through WW2 and experienced the events firsthand may well not be with us next year, not only given the seriousness of the virus on the elderly population but also given the fact that even the youngest of them are over 80 and many approaching 90 and more, Time isn’t on their side.
I came to the conclusion that it would be churlish in the extreme to deny a celebration for them, and that my own reservations and feelings should be put to one side for the day, for their sake, as none of my generation would be here in the country as it is now, without the effort and sacrifice of our parents and grandparents’ generation.
We must never forget what that generation went through and maybe a little celebration amongst all this sadness and confusion is actually a good thing? A way of getting through it just for a few hours? I don’t know… it’s hard!
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The most important part of my comment was to offer Doodlemum, Angie, and her family my heartfelt condolences.
As to the rest, that was just reflection at a confused time. I certainly don’t make light of the huge sacrifices made by so many across the world nor their importance to us still today.
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No of course, and I didn’t get that impression from your comment either. Apologies if that came across fro my reply.
I was just trying to explain my reasoning and understanding of the celebrations going ahead as they did, because in all honesty, I didn’t feel comfortable about it at all… I have just lost my mum though, so everything feels wrong just now to be truthful.
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I’ll drop you a line separately. Take care
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You too…
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So sorry to hear about Myles’s brother Angie love… these losses are never easy are they my darling. Please pass on our condolences. God Bless you all. Sean. xxx
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There are times when the phrase “life goes on” seems bloody cruel, right?
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Yes very true. Never helps does it?
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I know. Even the good days are just okay. The bad days are a tearfilled unbearable drudge. I want to be able to sleep again. I want joy to sink deeper than my skin. I want to hold my daughter in my arms. Sending love to you and yours. There is nothing more I can do. We will get through this. We will xx
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I to …wasn’t able to join in the fun with all
That is going on !! I spent my day in quiet
Reflection … ❤️
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❤️❤️❤️
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So sorry to hear about your loss. It is very difficult to be unable to say goodbye. Thinking of you and your family. Axx
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Oh I am so sorry and sad for you, Myles and the family – It’s unbearable and no words can soothe the pain you are going through. All I can do is offer my sympathy and my own grief. My mum died at the end of February. I am a little further along the road, but not far. Keep close and stay safe, Love Maxine x
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My thoughts are with you 😦 ❤
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