Not Quite 21

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Today we attended the online funeral of Ivan, the young son of very good friends of ours in Bath.  

Ivan had been battling with a depressive illness, which became even more difficult during lockdown.  It seemed as though he was close to getting through it, but it wasn't to be, and his life was cut short before he turned 21. 

So many young people were at the funeral and it was heartbreaking to see their grief - heads bowed, shoulders slumped, hands clutching their hanky.  The family spoke.  Ivan's father Rupert, his mother Carol and big brother Oscar.  Rupert and Carol had their siblings say their words on their behalf, but Oscar, just a few years older than his brother stood up, tall and boyish-looking and spoke himself.   They all spoke of kindness, love, friendship, family - the things that really matter in life.   

Rupert said that Ivan was the best hugger and asked everyone to give somebody a hug in his memory.   Bb and I gave each other a big and much-needed one at the end of the service and I'm passing one on to you now.  Do pass it on to somebody you love or somebody you think could do with one. 

Rupert and Alan studied for their MBA together in our first two years of our time here in Barcelona in the early 90s and we've been friends ever since.