Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Chance Encounter

Many years ago I had a chance encounter with a man. He was a traveller, a business-person if you wish, and had probably met many people like me during the course of his travels. Little did I know in the ensuing years I would meet him over and over again. The fact I have done so on so many occasions is not something I can really complain about, even though it has affected me significantly in my life. You could call them coincidences, or just luck - neither good, nor bad - but these occasional meetings over the years are simply events that have happened, just as fate guides my path through life. I think the vast majority of people will live their lives without ever meeting this gentleman in the manner in which I have done, but I am sure there are far more than a few who will meet him at least once or twice, or even a dozen or so times like myself. Some claim to have seen him, although I never have, and those who have describe him as tall, dark, gaunt and silent, generally dressed in a black cloak. From what I have learned about him, he is known by a few names, though he has never been so polite as to introduce himself properly to me. You probably have heard of him; his name is Death.

What follows in this blog will be all my thoughts on my many meetings with this man. The circumstances surrounding the meetings, descriptions of the events leading up to and following those meetings, the reactions of me and of others involved, as well as my thoughts, feelings, and emotions at the time of the meetings, and over the years that followed. I am doing this for a number of reasons: I need an outlet for my anger, which I keep well hidden and well controlled at all times. In many instances the cloaked traveller has been invited to our meeting; invited by someone who thoughtlessly and selfishly caused the death of another. I think also through exploring my thoughts and emotions, and attempting to put them in writing, I may be able to discover how these meetings have affected (don't assume in a negative way!) my mental and emotional health, and ways to combat their effect. And also, even though they are uncommen, and I conquer them easily now, those mornings when I just want to stay in bed and sleep, at the very least I can get out of bed and start the day just doing something.

Access to this blog is open to the public now, but I will eventually make it by invitation only; those who wish to continue following it are asked to email me or comment with their email address so I can send them the link. I have also (tried to, at least) included an adult content warning when the blog is opened, simply because some of the descriptions and language contained herein are suitable only for mature readers. Apart from that, I don't think anyone should find it disturbing, and hopefully some will take from it something useful or helpful either for themselves, or someone they love.