An Epitaph

I lost a friend a week ago. He was only 24 years old and full of passion and joy. I spent a long day on the mountain looking for him before his body was discovered and during that time it struck me just how fragile our lives are and how we have to

seize every moment that is given to us. I think Robbie lived like that. I believe that he crammed more into his short 24 years than many people manage in three times more years.

I am already twice the age that Robbie was and I have been blessed with a life full of experiences and special people, but his untimely passing brought back into sharp focus the fact that only I am responsible for the way I choose to live my life and what I extract from it.

This year has already been an incredible year for busy wonderful experiences in my life – hence the serious shortage of newsletters and blogs. What is more I still have adventures piled-high between now and the end of the year.

So as I seize the opportunities that life offers in abundance I offer this message in sadness and celebration as a tribute to a special young man. Much of this contribution features flowers and I think that is a perfect metaphor for Robbie’s life – brilliant, beautiful, inspirational and too brief.

The mountain was moody and beautiful today.

Although we are past the peak flowering season we were indulged with a display of exquisite flowers. Since this is a tribute and not a treatise I simply offer you the images without any commentary or any identification. As you enjoy these images I ask you to join me in celebrating a short life that touched so many, and simultaneously critically assess your own life and ask whether you take and give as much as you possibly can.