June 7th 2008. My previous posting is a reminder of how to continue living in the face of bereavement. After I had posted it I remembered what today means to us as a family. My late maternal grandfather's birthday was today. My late mother-in-law's birthday was yesterday, believe it or not she passed a day later, the 7th June at the age of 70. We had in fact been celebrating her special birthday just hours before. And 7 years later to the day, my fahter-in-law passed. How could he know the significance of that date? He was in hospital with a heart condition and had lost his short-term memory. Indeed when he died we felt as if he had been called by his life companion. He had been spared his earthly life for exactly another 7 years. I find it difficult therefore not to believe that everything is pre-ordained. Sometime though it is said that when we become older we live looking forward to a significant day or event in our lives. Perhaps my mother-in-law had decided that 70 was a very good milestone and that is what kept her heart going. So often a person dies the day after a milestone birthday. Do we make a pact with ourselves?

Why though, the significance of the number seven? There is a superstition that if we break a mirror we will experience seven years of bad luck. I have worked at my current job for seven years, and it felt like a very stressful time in my life. My mother passed on, after her sell-by date was reached (she said 70 years was sell-by, whatever!) and my daughter was abused and nearly took her own life two years later. I actually believe her self-esteem was low resulting from the sudden departure of my mother who worshipped her being the only grandaughter out of six grandchildren. The maternal bond is very strong. Then my brother took his life a year after this. I also believe my mother was his rock, after his married life never really advanced from the honeymoon stage, and faltered at the altar. When the ring is on the finger, the facade drops and the truth about one another sets in. If one has not spent a length of time with an intended marriage partner, the hasty marriage can become a millstone!

Ok, so I am not quite sure what the significance of this date and the number seven is after all. I have rambled on a bit, but life is a mystery after all. There are more questions that answers. But somehow when the dates fall into a pattern, and a number that is deemed perfect in a biblical sense features in life-changing events such as births and deaths, I have to believe everything is for a reason.

I treasure the memories of those who have passed, and this is a perfect day to do so. Rest in peace. Love from Eve.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++