A funeral for a friend

Justin, Leah & Lucy


I attended the funeral of my friend Justin Schollbach on Wednesday.  Justin and his girlfriend Leah were killed in a car accident last week, whilst returning home from a visit to the Royal Womens Hospital were their 12 week premature baby daughter Lucy was being cared for.  Lucy died on Wednesday morning, a few hours before her parents funerals.  Please may they all be together again now.

It is such a terribly sad story.  I am so sad for Justin, who was such a sweet and terribly funny guy.  A big kid himself, who loved kids, oldies and animals.  I gave him some budgies once when we were young.  I can still see him leaving my house, carrying the cage, staring at the birds with such happiness.  He was a bright light who made everyone laugh.  I always catch myself smiling when I think about him - I always will.

The Dash poem by Linda Ellis was read at the funeral.  I have not heard it before but I really liked it and want to post it here.

 The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
(You could be at "dash midrange.")

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Cheers Ears - your dash wasnt long, but it was special. xx