"look out on a summer's day with eyes that know the darkness in my soul" ~Vincent by Don McLean

In the end, what matters is how we have made others feel and how we have uplifted others through our lives.  I have written my second eulogy within a two-year time frame and the common theme is the celebration of life. That the end of another person's life is an opportunity to reflect on ours.  Through this loaned life that will be inevitably taken away from us, are we willing to ensure that the things we leave behind--deeds, creative work, interactions, help we've extended to our immediate family and our neighbours--are things that will enhance other people's lives.

Landscape from Saint-Remy by Van Gogh, 

NY Carlsberg Glyptotek[Wikicommons link]

About life...
In 2009, I visited the NY Carslberg Glyptotek and saw my first real Van Gogh: a lesser known piece entitled Landscape from Saint-Remy. I was less than a forearm's length from the painting. I became emotional, not because of the actual physical painting but that I knew about Van Gogh's life (through my high school English class) and that all the beautiful things he left behind were created amidst  such a sad and turbulent life. I couldn't take a photo because it wasn't allowed. I just stood there in silent tears while a female guard was at the entrance of the small room that featured the painting. I may have forgotten the painting prior to this (thanks to Google and Wikipedia) , but I remember the feeling.

There is this Dr. Who episode wherein Dr. Who brings Van Gogh to the future to show the artist how his works are well-loved by many people and that he is considered among the greatest artists--if not the greatest artist--of all time. While fictional, wouldn't it be nice if those we love who have passed on from this life had the opportunity to feel what the fictional Van Gogh felt in this episode? Warning, you will cry.

So, what do you think about that, Augustus with severed forelimbs?