I had some very sad news today.   A dear friend of mine called to tell me that one of her childhood friends had died.  Another life cruelly taken by cancer.  Upon hearing my friends grief, I drove swiftly to the beach with my hound at my heels and her best buddy in tow, and his owner.  My friend, I and the dogs strolled for miles and miles along the sandy stretch, bathed in yet another glorious sunny day.  We exchanged opinions on life and death and it made me reflect on dear friends/lovers departed.  The mind can drift rapidly back to that ever niggling question as to why we are and why we are here.  When we leave this mortal coil, is it to move onto greater things within the cosmos?  It's a soothing thought, but as I send my thoughts to my dear friend Sofia and her loss, I believe it is by our own thoughts and recalls that we will keep the memories of all our beloved departed alive, while we walk this earth.  That and time will heal the wounds of grief and loss.  Go with the angels Mafalda...