Nice to see you.




Order Lone Wolf World via Amazon or above
2018 Best New Talent - Short and Sweet Festival Sydney
2014 Pushcart Prize nominee. (more)

Books:



Get a weekly post delivered straight to your email. Email Subscribe to anthonyjlangford2@yahoo.com.au

More Bad News, followed by a little Good...

Actually the good news came first but who wants to end on a downer? 

The Bad 

The day before I brought my partner home from hospital, my grandfather was diagnosed with a terminal illness and went into hospital. The day after I brought my partner home, I managed to speak to him on the phone and told him how I felt. He was 89, but sharp and good humoured to the end. He died a day later. 

My father and his brother rushed up (live 700kms away) but were unable to get there in time. However the funeral was rushed forward so that they could attend. My grandfather only wanted a simple service, but wants his ashes scattered in the Victorian Grampians (mountains), which will happen later. The three of us drove the 3 hours to the service then back to Sydney. This all during the week that my partner requires me for absolutely everything, as she is in a wheelchair. It's been a crazy week.


 
The Grampians 

My grandfather was healthy (up until the last few months) and of sound mind to the end. This is what I wrote and read out at his service. 

Every so often 
We are reminded of the shortness of Life 
And its fragility 
And when we witness the passing of someone dear 
we are humbled by its power 
For we are so tiny so innocent 
And at its mercy. 

We must be thankful for the days we see 
For the experiences we gather 
for the friendships we share 
for the family's we create 
They are precious 
For our time will come also 
and may we be as blessed and as loved as we have witnessed these past days 
With our dearly loved Stanley. 

His openness to the possibilities of Life were inspiring 
He was scared, yet he kept his humour 
Somehow 
Knowing what was to come. 
 He was blessed with the longevity of life 
And he knew this 
That's not to say it was all roses & laughter
 It was not without stress or strife 
But there were many great memories that he left behind 
If we remember him, it's usually with a smile 
As he was always smiling and quick with a quip or joke 
And that says volumes about the type of person he was. 
E E Cummings, who was a poet and playwright said, The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. 

Friedrich Nietzsche the German philsopher once said: And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.
And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.

Stanley danced (in his own way) and laughed every day, and for that, his life was rich. His life was full. And that is as much as anyone could ask out of life.



(2005) The Good 

Just when I beleived that every literary submission I made was somehow sucked up into a cyber void, I finally had a story accepted for publication. It's for a regarded Anthology, only printed up once a year, and also a special 25th Anniversary edition, so I feel honoured. Honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time. I really needed some good news. I'll provide a link when it comes out if you're interested, which will be later in the year. Things are still very hectic at this end, but will endeavour to post once a week, and will try to get to your blogs when I can. 


Coming Soon, 
Greatest Written Films 
A Classic





12 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about Stan's passing Tony. I'm glad that you made it to the funeral. Your reading would have been lovely for everyone to hear. That's a really nice photo of you and him that you've posted. Congratulations on the upcoming publication.

    Sal x

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am really sorry to hear your grandfather's passing, but hurray to your story being published!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tony... you've certainly been put through the wringer lately! Thiking of you and sending our love your way!
    So sorry to hear that you lost your beloved Stan! I'm so glad you were able to talk with him the previous day... a conversation worth a thousand words and more!
    Loved the tenderness in your tribute to Stan, I'm sure he was proud of you and will be... always!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry about your loss. Your words are touching, and I really like those quotes.
    CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LATEST PUBLICATION!! That is wonderful news. Life is very exciting for you these days.
    Enjoy.
    xoRobyn

    ReplyDelete
  5. My deepest condolences to you and your family Anthony. There is nothing more painful on this earth of ours than losing a loved one (besides giving birth).

    When you spoke to Stan the day before he passed away reminded me of my Mum's passing. She had called me on my birthday and then passed away 1 week later. (I am in Canberra and she lived in Perth). While we chatted, she asked me, "When am I going to see you again?" and at that moment, I had this strange feeling that I would never see her again. I cannot explain why I even thought or felt this, I just knew and I cried.

    I had no financial means at the time to go to her and spend a few days, we were in dire financial strain. It was a dark, dark time. Somehow, it passed.

    I miss my Mum dearly. Time never heals loss, but it does remind us of the memories we shared, and like a wheel turning, so are the seasons of our lives, and as each one comes, we experience a spring, a summer, an autumn and a winter.

    The key is not so much what happens to us, but more about how we respond to what happens to us.

    Head up my friend. My thoughts are with you.

    G~


    PS: Congratulations on your latest publication!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you Sal, Amyee, Min, Robyn and G. Your comments are very much appreciated. Actually, they mean alot.
    Yes its been a tough few weeks. What can you do? You just push on.
    Sorry to hear about your mother Ms Oz..It is funny how sometimes we know things. I don't know why this is. I also don' tknow why bad things seem to come in patches, not just one thing but a whole bunch. But your right, its the way we reacte that determines if we get through them or not. We are tested in such ways.

    So, we try and smile and just keep going.

    =]

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm so sorry about your Loss.
    Hugs, Arielle

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sorry to hear about the death of your Grandfather, you looked close. The Grampians is a beautiful place for his ashes, although a little cold at times. I glad to hear your partner is home. Great news on your getting published. I am sure you will let us know the name of the publication later so we can rush out and buy it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks alot Graham. Yes we were close. He had a good long healthy life though, so he was lucky. Still, I will miss him.

    And I'll update on the publication when I find out more.cheers.

    Thanks Arielle. hugs

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm not sure how I missed this one...

    First off, I'm very sorry for your loss. The words you wrote for his funeral were very very moving.

    Second, contrats on the acceptance!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Anthony .. I am so pleased I decided to look back at the blog entries I have missed whilst I haven't been active on the net.
    I am so terribly sorry that your beloved grandfather was taken from you so swiftly, I can only imagine how you must feel. That is a wonderful photo of you both together and you couldn't be more right in your summing up of the important things in life.
    I was pleased to read that your wife is now home from hospital..I do hope that she is now OK & bub too.
    I absolutely love what you read out at your grandfathers ceremony, it was beautiful and I am sure he would have been pleased.

    Hugs to you! Take care & a very big congratulations on your submission...it is great news. No doubt you will keep us all posted.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Pat and Katherine..

    thanks for yr comments Katherine regarding my grandfather and my partner.. (& bub!) I have had some challenging days lately...
    thank you
    =]

    ReplyDelete

Like what you read? Please Share. Without you I is nothing.