Five years amiss

There are milestones in life that we progressively tick off over time. These time-stones, if you will, gather momentum in the initial stages and then the intervals between 'stones' become progressively longer to only grow shorter again as the significance of the anniversary passes with the passing of the few remaining souls to whom the time-stone carry any real significance.

Confused?

Imagine celebrating a birth, both literally and figuratively such as a marriage or establishment of an institution to name just two. Year one is significant, followed with progressive importance by two, three, and four. The big milestone really is year five, then it is year 10, year 20, year 25, year 40, year 50, year 65, year 75, year 80, year 85, year 90, year 95, then finally year 100 – after which the cycle basically starts again.

The case is the same in birth as in death. Only in death the event is more solemn and more introspective.


Today marks a time stone in my life that I'd rather not have if I was ever given a choice; in fact I am certain it is the same for everyone of us who were touched by his love. I remember so painfully my friend and 'brother from another mother' Syed Nahoum Ali.

Nahoum passed on this day five years ago. A milestone year only doubly sadder because this year would also have been his 40th.

A death is a personal thing, I imagine no two people suffer the same way or remember the passing the same way. For some the emptiness remains forever unfilled. While time eases the pain and the longing, it cannot ease the tragedy of an untimely death.

I must believe Guttu (or Goots), as he was known to his closest compatriots, is in a better place; but I KNOW that had he been alive today, we would all be in a in a better place (but alas would not know it).

May his soul find the peace that he erroneously believed had eluded him in life.

Amen.