Impatience.

After our large workplace closed
down restructured out of town
offshore we found other jobs.
Over a dozen of us still met for
dinner from time to time.

Ruth worked evening shifts then
rejoined our dinners after
retiring though often not quite well.

Her slim slight wiry frame often
coughed from chest infections.
She could not hold back her
exasperation for she wanted
to do so much in her retirement.

She missed a dinner, came to one,
missed one yet again. At the next
dinner someone spoke of her
illness. I asked how she was
– but at 69 she had passed away.

Two of us saw the death notice just
before the funeral, attended it.

When we exclaimed at this
unexpected passing Doreen said
Ruth did not expect it either.

Once again I am resoled to
read death notices daily.