"He died this morning"

the writer said and then went on to say, "I don't want sympathy. I don't even know why I am tweeting this."

I am not sure how the "tweet" even came to be in my timeline but it was there. It appears to be from a legitimate account, from a man whose son had the worst sort of brain tumour. 

Why would he write it? Why would he write it if he wasn't looking for sympathy? What's the point?

There is a point of course. We need to know about some of these things sometimes. We don't need to know about all of them all of the time but we do need to know sometimes. Knowing about all of them all of the time would be more than our mental health could handle. Is knowing about some of them some of the time good for us? I suspect it is. Perhaps that is why such things sometimes creep into our timelines, on to the printed page or into the airwaves.

We need to know about another family who have just lost a son in a freak accident, a family who may yet lose a daughter as well. This was no "crash" caused by inattention on the part of the father. Someone ahead of him had hit an emu. 

Our need to know is not because it is good or right or proper to dwell on these things but because we need to be reminded of the value of life, our lives and the lives of those around us. These things are a reminder to be aware of those around us.

Yesterday I had an unexpected string of visitors. I was only expecting one. He came to pick up several items from the shed. I had not met him before. He was pleasant enough but not seeing him again will not bother me. As he arrived so did someone I really do not know well. She knows I am moving of course. Was there anything she could take to the charity shop on her way through? I passed over a bag of things that were labelled "useful but do not keep". 

Then my new neighbour called in and offered to take me somewhere I need to go next weekend. I declined because I have made other arrangements but I wished I did not need to leave this address when I have neighbours like that. 

Mid afternoon and Middle Cat came with someone who was taking more from the shed. G... is a "handyman" and sympathised over the size of the job. 

While they were here S... arrived. She had half an hour to spare. What could she do to help? We loaded more books into her car and two more bags for the other charity shop closer to her home. 

When they were all gone I sat down for a moment to make another list. The house was quiet, almost too quiet. I went outside for a moment...and there was another visitor. This time though the visitor was avian not human. The little willy-wagtail sat within two metres of me. We looked at each other before it darted in to pick some more of the cobweb I have deliberately left for nest building. Most of the cobweb has now been used. I know I should clear the rest away but how can I? A visitor is using it...and I am lucky to have such visitors. 

It is also why I need to reach out to someone else.