Thank you, everyone, for all your kind words and support. Although it's been nearly four years since he passed, I realized that the pain doesn't disappear - it just spreads itself out. I'm still amazed at how easily the tears can come, if I'm caught in just the right mood.
My mom visited my dad's grave yesterday. She brought my 2-year-old nephew with her as she was watching him for the afternoon. She said that my nephew had a great time, which threw me off at first. Who has a great time at a cemetary? But as Brent pointed out, when you're two, there's not much difference between a park and a cemetery. Both are grassy and both have colorful things that kids gravitate toward (bright jungle gyms in a park, bright flowers in a cemetery). Apparently pinwheels are big in gravestone decor these days, so he had fun trying to blow them round and round even if he didn't have much success.
I liked the juxtaposition of a carefree kid finding joy there, a kid who doesn't yet know what a great person his grandfather was nor the wisdom and kindness that we learned from him. We'll make sure he finds out.
"There's no use in weeping, though we are condemned to part. There's such a thing as keeping a remembrance in one's heart..." - Charlotte Bronte
Aw, another tear jerker! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your nephew will love and think very highly of his grandfather.
It's nice that children have an innocence, and aren't yet affected by the difficult things in life.
My brother's b-day was this past Friday. It's been nearly 2 years, and I agree that the pain never goes away. I don't expect it to. Madi, like your nephew loves "visiting" Chase. She loves to read the names and descriptions of others. She finds sticks, flower petals and acorns and happily piles them on my brother resting place. You've said everything that went though my mind watching her on Friday.
ReplyDeleteoHUGSo
That's exactly right. The Kid and I went with O.G. to the cemetary. He had a blast. Then again, so did she as SHE was also running up and down the grass and playing with the pinwheels. Weirdo.
ReplyDeleteJack was a little over a year when his grandpa passed away and it still breaks my heart when I think that he will never know his "Poppi" Ira. But you're absolutely right about making sure we keep our loved ones alive in our hearts and share their life with others. Jack too likes the cemetery. Watching him run and play makes our time there a little less painful.
ReplyDeleteEverything else in life starts out small and gets bigger over time. Not grief. It starts out ginormous and then gets less ginormous as the years go on. But, like you said, it never truly disappears.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you my friend. I think to myself how blessed we all are to have such great people touch our lives. Take care and know that he loves you every day.
ReplyDelete*hugs*
ReplyDeleteYou know I totally get it.