As evening turned to dusk, so we talked about life and stuff.
The one in France had married a French guy, divorced, lived with another and been forced to, essentially, run away - then married a great Scottish guy (who was divorced and, indeed, a grandfather, himself) and now appears to be content in her personal life and they have a lovely 7 year old daughter.
Another married her sweetheart from age 16, they had a daughter (now 16) and then he ran away when their child was 1 - with someone he met at FriendsReunited! My friend then married an Irish guy with whom she has two further kids.
The third worked her way through a number of relationships - some that may be considered 'rebellious' as she is Jewish. Then married a Jewish guy somewhat older than her and has a 9 year old son.
The details are not to identify but how varied people are.
And I, of course, have my own story.
One of my friends texted the next day to say that the dinner conversations could have formed the content of a Woody Allen film!
As I relate that line to other friends, that is true of virtually everyone. The four of us are ordinary people trying to live ordinary lives, but things get added to our lives like lego pieces or fall on us like dust and there is little that may be called simple.
Can I continue the metaphor further? Can we be the 'wall' that the proverbial jelly falls off of and retain who we are while dealing with the vicissitudes of life or do we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and break down.
And, of course, these are first world problems. Floating across the Mediterranean in search of a better life, scraping of rubbish heaps to earn money - those are problems. Us? Unless they are medical and tragic, we make them but can't always unmake.
