Morbid post

I'm no good with death, that is the death of friends and aquaintances, and their close relatives. I don't suppose anyone is, but some people are better than others. As I get older I suppose I'd better get used to it, or get used to having no friends.

In the case of a relative, I know my place, I send a card, I show up, I have things to do. My family are quite practical on this matter and we seem to cope much better than others.

My problem is with people outside my family that I don't quite know what to do or say. Anything I can think of seems crass and stupid, and in the past I have been quite annoyed at people who spouted meaningless drivel when a friend through Uni died.

The other dilemma is did I know them well enough to turn up at their funeral to say goodbye?

A number of people I knew have died or had relatives die this year. A friend through SAGGA jumped from a 9th floor window, which was shocking, and someone from the Jamboree IST died last week leaving a partner and a baby daughter. Both were tragically young.