Times Long Past*

I had a few ideas for a post today, but that's all in the wind, for now.

Found out that one of our long time readers, and a frequent commenter here, snuffyny, known to his friends and loved ones as Joe Welsh, passed away on the 29th of December.

He had a blog, though he hadn't written anything recently, he'd been doing it since 2011. He would often leave a link to one of his old posts in a comment. I enjoyed that.

Joe hadn't been well lately, though I had hoped he'd turned the corner.

Sigh...

It was not to be.

I'm going to miss him, he was a good man.

Joseph Welsh, self-portrait
"...witness to gone times, and to graces gone with time." - Sylvia Plath

Through many countries and over many seas
I have come, Brother, to these melancholy rites,
to show this final honour to the dead,
and speak (to what purpose?) to your silent ashes,
since now fate takes you, even you, from me.
Oh, Brother, ripped away from me so cruelly,
now at least take these last offerings, blessed
by the tradition of our parents, gifts to the dead.
Accept, by custom, what a brother’s tears drown,
and, for eternity, Brother, ‘Hail and Farewell’. 

Gaius Valerius Catullus

Ave atque vale!

* Auld Lang Syne