For fear of something worse

The funeral over, people seem to expect what the Americans call "closure". Except that such a thing is very unlikely when the event is almost inexplicable in any reasonable terms. Also, it is clear that, bad though it was, many were afraid of something worse; but then even relief brings feelings of guilt. Mix in some anger, and you have a heady mixture. It wouldn't be so bad if things were uniformly awful, but mixed in are some really very happy events, that again bring on feelings of guilt, and the thought that we shouldn't be enjoying ourselves "at a time like this". Others have simply removed themselves from the local scene for a time, unable or unwilling to engage with the hopeless task of trying to make sense of things. On Wednesday, after the funeral, I did the same, and too off in the Bus for 24 hours. Staring across the hills from a Neolithic stone circle at least restores some sort of perpective on time, that so-called great healer.