Today we buried a very dear friend. As his coffin was lowered into the grave, gentle snowflakes fell. A light layer of pristine white forming on the dark, cold soil…..
One does not leave a funeral in the same way that you have come. One cannot help but have death on one’s mind. One cannot help but be aware that such is the end of all life. One may look at oneself and have a new awareness that one’s body will not last forever. These thoughts are ones that humans must face and find a way to deal with. Some believe that the death is only the beginning of the next great mystery and the soul is eternal. Others take a practical view that death is all there is. Everyone leaves a funeral with thoughts of life and its fragility on their mind.
Today we bid farewell to a dear friend, a brother in every way but blood. We know that friends like Dries come so infrequently that we want to cling to them and not let them leave. We want to beg them to stay, but love’s power gives us the strength and the courage to let go. To let them leave when it is time to say goodbye and give them the wings they deserve. To let them fly into the boundless sky…… where the gentle snowflakes reminded us of them as it brushes against us
My regrets are many. If only I had gone to the hospital to visit when I heard about Dries’ heart surgery…… If only I had gone to visit with Danie when he popped around after Dries was discharged from hospital…….. If only I had truly made Dries realize the value our friendship. Regrets will not bring him back. I have become so self-centred in my journey with Vic that I have closed myself off from the world. I have excluded friends and acquaintances and almost jealously guarded my pain.
I bid you adieu, my dear friend. Your kindness, your generosity and gentle spirit will live on through everyone whose path you crossed. It is with love and the faith that we shared that I will move forward from here. I will never forget you.
Rest in peace my dearest friend!
Though I do mourn for you my friend
And though I may cry,
And though you are leaving me
I do not say goodbye.
For goodbyes mean forever
Yet here you still remain.
Because, forever you will live
Here in my memories,
And forever in my heart
You will remain. (Thomas Barnes)
(That was for you dear friend, I love you, and will miss you)
Vic's Final Journey 
Dankie Ters….spesiaal die gedig. Vir my is jy nogsteeds ‘n Engel op aarde! Ek het nog nooit iemand ontmoet met soveel liefde vir ander, deursettingsvermoe en innerlike krag nie. ‘n Moeder Teresa wat net altyd op ander se behoeftes fokus. Dankie vir jou en Danie se liefde oor al die jare..memories wat niemand kan wegvat nie. Judy
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Ai Judes. Dankie vir jou woorde maar ek sien definitief nie wat jy sien nie. Ek wens jy het geweet hoe lief ek/ons vir jou is. Jy is die mens met die mooiste persoonlik wat ek ken!! Jy beteken soveel vir my!!
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