Summer gives sun and beauty, but takes so many elderly people: the most go to the shadows, even if in sunny and sultry houses, even without a sad touches of bell. In nursing homes, in hospitals, alone. In their houses wedges of memories, who accompanied them with tender nostalgia.
But as he said Totò, Death is a leveland does not look at fame or wealth. Thus, also this summer has taken away pieces of our history, of our imagination, which we remembered with regret.
I think about Pippo Baudobut also a Emilio Fedeand above all a Giorgio Armaniwhose glory has been celebrated all over the world. We are talking about three big old men – let’s use this word, without reticence – who have so much received and given, as it happens to everyone, with alternate fortunes, and as it happens to everyone, who more who less, showing their best or less exemplary face (Even the saints have lived dark moments).
Yet, the emphasis, rhetoric, the race to revive memories and memories – which not everything is memorable – played out of tune, exaggerated, unnecessary. We have read and heard epithets always growing, LedgeAnd King And Emperorand what else?
We sorned the story of private and public anecdotes that are not always significant, with the suspicion that they served to highlight close and often distant friends, rather than honoring the great disappearance. Sometimes it seemed to us that the excess of pages and programs and revelations gave space to gossip, although disguised as commendation.
And instead, in a time when old age and death are hidden with annoyance, in a time when success and power determine the judgments on men, in which it only counts to produce, consume, show themselves, yet another opportunity has been lost to reflect on the meaning of living and dying.
On the true sense to give to the talents, to the merits, to the demerits, to the signs that we trace in the time that is given to us. On the sense of life: what is it worth spending it, creating, building, fighting? Study and work, make family, suffer and rejoice, cry and laugh, have friends.
For fate, for the hope of eternity, here, making himself remember, and elsewhere. A promise, for those who believe, a Fl Evile Varcofor those who do not believe but would like to believe. What remains of our most humble grandparents, or of the greats who have impressed their footprint in history? The good, received and donated.
Because nothing is more true than that warning of San Giovanni della Croce: «At the end of life you will be judged on love».
Only this remains, not assets, not successful (how long can it last? At the longer some page in the books, some clips to Techetechetè). But The looks of lovewhich is understood, embrace, generosity, forgiveness, testimony.
(Photo above: Istock)