Minutes come, minutes go.

There are friends and there are friends.
Some come into the life to stay there forever.
And some come and leave after a while.

In the life of the pioneering photographer are persons who are friends for over 45 years.

One of them said goodbye yesterday.
John was going to the hospital.
He has problems with the heart and needs serious treatment.
Near the groin they will open a blood vein and introduce a flexible cable.
That will be pushed all the way up into the heart.
Where the top of the cable is supposed to do repairing work in the heart chambers.
The patient is under full narcosis.
And is kept in an artificial coma for two days and nights.

It is a serious medical intervention and it is unavoidable to think that the goodbye might have been a last one.

This fear is maybe not justified at all.
Maybe John is back and better in three days.

But probably the fear is fed by knowing that if a long time friend is suddenly not among the living anymore, strong emotions will be felt.

John himself hinted at this.
He said that maybe he would not return from the coma.
Instead of being dramatic about this, enforcing therefore the fears on his side, it was explained it was a way to die without suffering.
In that sense, a convenient way to die.
And we laughed.

On Thursday a phone call can be made.
To talk to John after his medical intervention.

Until that moment, there is this permanent tension.
And there is no God to turn to.
To ask privileges.
Because this is life.
Every minute comes and every minute goes.
Until there are no more minutes.
And that is what has to be accepted.
In harmony and peace.



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