Time waits for no Man or Woman. Thoughts after a funeral.

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Just back from the funeral of a good and decent woman. She has been a loyal client for many years. She was the sister of my GodMother. As I grew up I’d hear of how she was doing but really didn’t know Aileen  all that well.

I was very close to my Godmother Pauline and when I qualified as a solicitor, now over 30 years ago, she insisted I made her will for her.  She subsequently got married after my mother had introduced her to a jolly widower. They were very happy together for many years. This gentleman was a Dublin Corporation Architect and I got on very well with him. I used to recommend him to young couples about to buy their first home. Unfortunately, or fortunately, whatever way you look at it, he used to find ‘terrible’ things wrong with each and every property I asked him to survey. ‘The roof sways’ , ‘It’s build in a mirrow-image of the plans’, just some of the comments he would direct at me. This kept me on my toes as I had to bring this information to the attention of the Vendors solicitors. Many a row I had over ‘essential’ works that he insisted must be done. Sadly he passed away some years ago. It seems like only yesterday that he was here and yet it seems so far away.

Today, I’m consumed with the thoughts of time. What a mysterious thing. Occasions such a death can trigger such thoughts. So much has changed and yet a lot has stayed the same. Where has all the time gone? Time goes so fast. It’s hard to believe that my Grandson Toes is nearly two years old, but it seems like he was just born yesterday.

Sitting in my office thinking about the funeral of my Godmother’s sister today reminds me of times past. She’s gone now but still I can experience her spirit. She was a good woman. I’ll miss her although I didn’t know her all that well. I spoke with her on the odd occasion, usually at a funeral.  She was my connection to my Godmother who died of Parkinson’s Disease some time back. I’d like to know a little more about her life and that of her children. When I was a child Pauline would update us all on how her sister was doing with her own family. But now I feel that bit sadder that she has gone. Part of me, my past will seem like it’s disappeared again, until the next funeral. It is people we deal with, not inanimated objects. They have a history and if we’re lucky enough to have spent some time with them, we can rejoice in their being. Life is so much the poorer without them.

I’ve been told another client died yesterday. His funeral will probably be early next week. He was known to one of my colleagues so it won’t evoke the same memories…or will it?

Aileen Farren RIP

LegalEagleStar , Thursday , 10th. November , 2011 .