Tag: grief

ECONOGAL > grief

Unexpected Death

Posted on by Econogal

Unexpected Death

Death comes quickly when unexpected.

It drops suddenly day or night.

No warnings. Just action. Stealth.

It doesn’t seem right.

 

Easier on the recipient,

Harder on those left behind.

Unexpected Death.

 

Life is over in a moment.

Too quick for reflection?

Perhaps, and hard to know.

Suffering, little or none.

 

The mystery of life remains.

Natural death is not chosen.

Unexpected Death just occurs.

 

Grief follows shock

With each passing day

The pain reverberates,

not going away.

 

Unexpected Death

Each one a stressful act

For those left behind.

 

Weary of the mounting losses

Those still living

Must continue on.

Life means doing and being.

 

Seeking the joy in living.

While remembering those passing on.

Unexpected death gives life more meaning.

Grief

 

Everything is fine until suddenly it’s not.

Grief catches one at odd moments-

A memory here or a smell there.

Favorite songs on the car radio.

Triggers are everywhere.

 

Each one hurts in a different way.

Grief is individual. Grief is collective.

No rhyme or reason, no right or wrong.

But an Unexpected Death

Calls for me to be strong.

A Quick Good-bye

 

Just last week you called,

Uncomfortable in the single bed.

Advice was asked and given.

 

The problem so quickly solved

You hastened to take action

With hardly a good-bye.

 

Since I was relieved by spirits so high,

It hardly mattered that brief good-bye.

Not knowing it would be the last.

Why oh, why, so fast.

 

 

Never Ending Love

 

Fortunate, are those who experience never-ending love.

Mistakes are overlooked. Disappointments forgotten.

 

Grudges are unheard of.

And forgiveness always has room to spare.

 

From birth to death-

Fortunate, are those who experience never-ending love.

 

Memories console and grant inner peace.

Such love gives us strength to carry on.

 

The gift of such a love is both human and divine.

A Father in Heaven and a father who walked the Earth.

 

Fortunate, are those who experience never-ending love.

 

 

I already miss you. Rest in Peace Dad.

The Little Paris Book Shop Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

The Little Paris Book Shop

The Little Paris Book Shop published originally in Germany back in 2013, was written by Nina George. Unfortunately my German is too limited to read the initial version. Fortunately, Simon Pare translated the work into English in 2015. This book moved me. But readers need to be forewarned. This book is deep. Soul-searching and beautiful, but the material requires a certain maturity.

The protagonist is Jean Perdu. The owner of a floating barge bookstore called la pharmacie litteraire or in English, The Literary Apothecary, Perdu prescribes books for what ails you. The barge is moored in Paris on the River Seine. The Little Paris Book Store has been the rock Perdu has clung to for the past 21 years. Ever since his beloved walked out on him.

But that is just the surface. George has written a novel which entertains. However, she also makes the reader contemplate their own failures, successes and even happiness as they follow Perdu down river facing the mistakes of his past. Personal growth is a large part of the story. Writers are another. Grief is yet another.

Book Shop Characters

The cast of characters in The Little Paris Book Shop follow the theme of missed opportunities. Floating along with Perdu are various individuals in mid-life. Some divorced, some bereft by an early death and one or two who have yet to find love. Much less lose it. The one youngster in the group is a twenties something best-selling author who has lost his muse. He fits nicely into the tale.

George explores life on many levels. Her writing describes contrasting life paths. But the road not taken is only part of the story. My interpretation was one of accepting the path chosen and appreciating the life around you. As I stated above, The Little Paris Book Shop is deep. Personal reflection is one of the benefits I derived from reading the story.

Suggested Target Audience

My suggestion for a target audience is over twenty-one. Partly for the European attitudes regarding relationships. But even more, I think readers who have suffered major setbacks (or even minor) in life will benefit the most. Nina George ends her novel in an upbeat way. The message is not only life goes on, but life can be even better. Perdu does a lot of soul-searching. As did I.