Today I had news that an old family friend has died in a plane crash off the coast of Africa. I don't know for sure, but it looks like it's probably this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8478175.stm
Kev Granger was one of my mother's hippy musician friends, and once I was old enough to start visiting people by myself I used to go and bother him all the time. He never objected. He gave me violin lessons and let me muck around with his harp - which he'd made himself. He was one of the people to instil in me my love of beautiful things.
The way he died was undoubtably quick, and he was on one of his jaunts, so he was doing something he liked doing - a far better way to go than rotting in a care home. I know I would much rather go that way.
But since the plane exploded in mid-air, there is no body, and no funeral. So all I can do is say my goodbyes by myself.
Kev's death makes me a lot sadder than the death of my grandfather, just after new year. But then, Grandad and I were never particularly close.
Kev Granger was one of my mother's hippy musician friends, and once I was old enough to start visiting people by myself I used to go and bother him all the time. He never objected. He gave me violin lessons and let me muck around with his harp - which he'd made himself. He was one of the people to instil in me my love of beautiful things.
The way he died was undoubtably quick, and he was on one of his jaunts, so he was doing something he liked doing - a far better way to go than rotting in a care home. I know I would much rather go that way.
But since the plane exploded in mid-air, there is no body, and no funeral. So all I can do is say my goodbyes by myself.
Kev's death makes me a lot sadder than the death of my grandfather, just after new year. But then, Grandad and I were never particularly close.
