A sad visit today

@JudyEv (340216)
Rockingham, Australia
March 20, 2023 7:32pm CST
The photo is another of the ‘sculptures’ which can be seen in the town of Boddington, Western Australia. I really love this one with the cement mixer bowl featuring as the back end of the ant. We’re making a sad visit today to an old school friend who has motor neurone disease. He has made a small fortune as a ‘powder monkey’, supplying and laying explosives at mine sites. He had three very expensive Maseratis at one time but would protest that one was for sale. He also has 7 or 8 2CV cars. But all his fortune hasn’t averted his current misfortune. He is a lovely person and it’s just awful that he isn’t expected to last the year. I don’t expect it to be a particularly easy visit. It’s always hard to know what to say in such circumstances.
21 people like this
22 responses
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
21 Mar 23
I like the ant... Oh, yeah, I hate visiting someone who is dying, for whatever reason. I'm never sure what I can and can't say.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Our friend made it easy for us really and we enjoyed our time there. The ant is great I think.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv I'm glad they made it easy for you.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
21 Mar 23
This ant is a pretty sculpture, I also like it. I am so sorry for your friend. I know that those are not happy and easy visits.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv It looks BIG!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
@LadyDuck The cement mixer bucket would be off a standard mixer so the whole thing is quite big.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
I think that ant would look great in my garden but it wouldn't fit!!
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
21 Mar 23
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I see that he is into cars also. I love your photo. We have items like that around here also.
3 people like this
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv lol Love that saying. I had never heard it before.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
I just think that ant is the ant's pants, as they say.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
@velvet53 If it wasn't so close to bedtime I might research its origins. lol Maybe tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112876)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Mar 23
I'm so sorry about your friend, I hope he will not suffer but mostly I will pray that they find a way to help him survive provided he won't suffer to do so.
3 people like this
@rebelann (112876)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Mar 23
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Thank you for your prayers. At the moment, they don't know what causes it and there is no treatment and no cure. It's really awful.
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
21 Mar 23
It's always sad when a friend is so sick, and conversation is difficult.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Our friend was pleased to see us and it wasn't as bad or as hard as I thought it might be.
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
23 Mar 23
@JudyEv I’m glad it turned out better than you thought it would.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14563)
• Hong Kong
21 Mar 23
That's an interesting sculpture. I'm so sorry for your friend. I understand it's not easy to find something to say to him.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Thankfully, the visit went well really. He was pleased to see us and we were able to talk about all sorts of things.
2 people like this
@Beestring (14563)
• Hong Kong
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv That's good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
21 Mar 23
My first husband passed of that illness.I am sorry for your friend.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
I'm sorry to hear that. It is a particularly nasty disease. It must have been a tough time for you both.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72141)
• United States
21 Mar 23
I looked up that disease wondering if it could have been from something he was expose to being a powder monkey but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Gosh how sad what that disease does to a person. I hope he enjoyed the life he with all those expensive cars and things. Such a sad way to go hoping they had a wonderful life and the end wont be as bad we think is about all you can hope for. It definitely sounds like a very hard visit but I am sure he will be happy to see a friend right now. Sending you hugs! . Ps that ant creation is so neat. I like that so much more than the helicopter.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Thanks for such kind words. He has had a very full life and has done a lot of great things which is a small consolation.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136541)
• India
21 Mar 23
Not all sick people look forward to visits and I hope your friend is not in that list
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Mar 23
He has asked his old school friends to visit as he wasn't able to get to the reunion.
4 people like this
@rakski (123356)
• Philippines
21 Mar 23
that is really sad.
3 people like this
@rakski (123356)
• Philippines
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv that is true.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
It's pretty hard to know it's probably the last time we'll see him.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Mar 23
So very sad for your friend, many blessings to him and at least you could get to see him,
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Thanks. I'm glad we went and he was pleased to see us.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Mar 23
That does sound like a sad visit to make. One of those necessary things to do in life. The ant is great!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
It's the least we can do if we think they'd like to see us. We actually enjoyed our visit and had a few laughs about times gone by. I'm glad we went.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv Good to hear. It may have helped them too.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19942)
• United States
21 Mar 23
Cool ant. Yeah hard visits are both sad and hard.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
I'm glad we went to see him. He made it easy for us.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26686)
• Singapore
21 Mar 23
We get into problems that money cannot solve at times. I am lost for words in such circumstances when people are slowly ebbing away. I feel so helpless too.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
That's very true but thankfully he has had a full and happy life.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (139937)
• Philippines
21 Mar 23
I must say that I am not good at dealing with sick people. It drains me so hard that I wanted to move away as much as possible.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
I know the feeling but it's good to remember that they don't necessarily want to be ostracized by their friends.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89873)
• Arvada, Colorado
21 Mar 23
Oh dear that is very sad and such a fruitful life he had lived Judy. That sculpture is completely ingenious. Anyway, I hope you had a good visit with your old school friend bless.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
We did have a good visit thanks. It was good to see him.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (139742)
• Roseburg, Oregon
21 Mar 23
I like the sculpture of the ant. It is hard to know what to say.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
I understand. He was pleased to see us and we had a really nice visit so that was good.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106397)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Mar 23
The ant is cute. Just visit like you normally would. Let him lead if there is something he really wants to talk about.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
Thanks. The visit wasn't nearly as difficult as it could have been. We enjoyed seeing him.
2 people like this
@Fleura (30404)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
I love the ant! I was trying to figure out what it was made of. So sad about your friend. And yes it is hard to know what to say: 'I'm fine, how are you? Oh, yes...' At least I hope he had some fun in his life when he was able to. And I'm sure he will enjoy reminiscing over good times you shared in the past.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
It was good to see him and we had a great chat. He just wants it over with, as you would, but there's nothing really to be done to hasten the process.
2 people like this
@Abbluada (22)
21 Mar 23
We never know how long we live :(
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 23
That's true and we shouldn't put off doing things like visiting old friends.