This Is To Be Mortal

“This is to be mortal, And seek the things beyond mortality.” Byron

This is my 125th post on Tea Trade. Yes, I have way too much to say.

But I might as well say it now. After all, I have no idea how long I’ll live. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, as the rather silly old saying goes. Buses here are so infrequent I could die of exposure waiting for one.

But every five years I go through a regimen of medical testing that assures me, and those members of the medical profession lucky enough to interact with me, that I am not on death’s door. And as the day for this testing is tomorrow. I decided last week I’d write, rather facetiously, about the teas I would hunt down and drink if I was given 6 months to live.

Now, here’s the thing – I’d got as far as the line about buses above when I took a break to get some other stuff done, and in that break, I checked Google+. Specifically, Tea for Ten, as it’s a forum I join in with from time to time.

And I received some awful news. Laurence Hubbard, who runs Tea for Ten, is dying.

And not at an agreeably distant and murky time in the future, but predictably soon.

Without going into all the details about his condition, I must say that it was a very human moment, to read his words.

I’d like to think he can prove the doctors wrong. I’d like to think so, but it’s hard to see how. As an atheist like myself, Laurence doesn’t even have a right of appeal here.

I’m sure he’ll be bombarded with quacks trying to convince him to buy huge quantities of maté , or their latest blend of chamomile, gyokuru, sheep’s testicles and polyethylene beads, as seen on TV, but the fact is, he’s going to be busy.

Busy? Of course. Is your life in order? Could you shut the door one day and never return, or is there stuff you need to do. Stuff you need to say. Stuff you need to think. People you need to be with.

The rest of us, we peel off these ‘truisms’ without thinking. “Live every day like it’s your last” . “Life’s too short for bad tea”.  “Life is what you make of it”

Who thinks these ‘inspirational’ things up? My favourite is “Dance like you’ve never danced before.” I always do this, because anyone watching me would be very confident I had never done it before.

Anyway, Laurence doesn’t need aphorisms from me. Or anything. He has  family who loves him and an on-line community that wishes him well. I can’t say I know him that well, but rather, some people I respect think a lot of him, and that’s good enough for me.

So, in a  rare break from tradition, I’m not going to take the time to share my ranty, philosophical, hypothetical, opinionated, hyperactive,  hypochondriac musings. I’m going to stop typing and use the time to find out his address in Canada, and send him some tea.

And I’d like you all to raise a cup to Laurence, who continues to do this his way, and with luck, good management and determination, will do so for as long as possible.