h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi folks - just to let everyone know I'm still alive! And so is Poplap ... so I'm hopefully taking care of her well enough! At any rate, I'm finding myself a bit at a loss for words. The past few weeks have been OK I guess ... I'm still feeling sad sometimes, and alone, but I've been active, painting and drawing a lot, working in the garden, exercising, and I've visited a few friends as well. I will soon send a new thing for 'Colours of Wildlife'. I also will write something about my mother here.

But I still feel very surreal ... sort of in a permanent trance.

I know how you feel, Willem. My dad and my aunt died within a couple of weeks of each other. I'm still feeling odd, like my world is somewhat out of kilter.

I wish I had a good answer for you. Love to Poplap.

*looking forward to new painting*

Hi there Dmitri! Yes, you would have an idea having gone through the same kind of thing. It's like something fundamental has changed about the Universe. And now I'm still stuck in an 'obsolete version' universe and somehow have to reconnect with the 'real' one.

That's it. Waiting for update.

Hang in there, buddy.

Hi Willem, surreal is a good word to describe how you seem to be feeling right now. My psychologist son told me a fancy name for it - which I can't remember right now - but apparently it's the way we all cope with the everyday stuff that has to happen, whilst we are still grieving.

It's a way of making sure the babies still got fed ( or in your case Poplap) even when war, strife, pestilence and so on, laid waste our early ancestors.

Just hang on in there - and be gentle to yourself You seem to be doing very well

Keep going, Willem and Dmitri.

Hi, Willem and Dmitri,

I can empathise with your feelings too, it still seems strange to me being on my own though of course it is a different situation, but I do feel as if I am waiting for something to happen which is strange. Perhaps I will feel better when all the legal stuff is sorted and I can 'draw a line' somewhere!

Both of you, when I lost my parents the world seemed to stop for me, while everyone else's life carried on as usual. It is the strangest feeling which took a while to go. Even when you have left home years before it is as though the rug has been pulled from under you and the 'rock' you thought would always be there has gone. It hasn't happened to me this time, I stayed in the real world throughout. Perhaps because my husband was in some way preparing me for the inevitable. I don't know.

Anyway, things will get easier for you both as time passes, you in particular Willem, and you seem to be doing all the right things to keep yourself from sinking in to grief. Your parents would not want that, they would want to know that all the support and love they gave you when they were here is sustaining you now as I am sure it is.

to you both.

Websailor