Here’s the conversation we had when two year old OC told me he wanted to call Papa and then Nana on the telephone. Papa was up cross country skiing, so I knew he was out of cell range. My dear, ever-present mom died on Boxing Day.
OC, who do you want to talk to on the phone? (YouTube video link!)
Sweet child working out his sadness of why he can’t call his Nana. These are his very own words.
I was Surprised!
I was humbled!
I am amazed!
OC took some photos with my phone on the weekend.
The adults were having a heartfelt conversation about Nana.
We didn’t even notice our mini-photographer.
Love Raffi!
Have you seen or heard him?
This is one if our favourite songs.
The big boys and I put on our best duds and headed downtown to the community theatre this afternoon.
Normally I wouldn’t do these kind of things because at $36 each for an hour, I feel a tad wild.
But with the months we’ve lived through and knowing you can’t take your money when you die, I avoided special treats for weeks and off we went.
Raffi came on the stage (sans besrd) and lit it up. He started with our favourite friendship song (that we sing with the Sharpe’s, check out the family here.)
He sang all of our favourites, we sang along too!
Great Memory.
Lots of smiles.
Joyful noises too!
2009
I can’t wrap my head around that my mom is dead.
What happened?
I never really understood cancer, how it morphs and changes, how it can consume.
I feel sharp edges of grief.
Rough, hurtful, prickly especially when I think about my mom’s unnecessary pain and hospital stay.
These sharp edges are immediately smoothed over when I hear stories of my mom, our Nana.
Like a soothing balm, these stories cover the edges and ease the pain… until the next wave comes on this ocean of grief.
Last night, we went for a walk to the field at the end of my parents’ street. As we walked, I was remembering walking their with mom, tobogganing, having the dogs out there.
Suddenly JC and CC ran ahead of us, across the field. They sat on two pieces of wood standing up. They sat there for a long time. Then JC called us over. I don’t know what the boys said while they were sitting on those logs, but JC was very clear in what he told me.
“Mom, I sat on those logs with Nana. The last time I had a sleepover by myself. ”
JC was lit up with joy by this simple memory my mom created with him.
Beautiful memory.
Breathtaking sunset.
Thanks mom!
A Magician
A Spy
A two year old Jumper
Plus a cute bedtime Storytime with Papa in matching pajamas from Spain to boot!
We had a novel January experience this afternoon – playing in puddles. Where is all the snow?
Auntie H (Sexy Neck’s cousin) offered to help out and she did.
Talk and tea with me.
Play and puddles with the boys.
She shed some tears with me and strapped on the gumboots!
Who can ask for anything more?
We got wet! And cold…
Auntie H had to ride CC’s scooter home.
We even met some ducks.
Quack quack!
Squish squish!
Brrrrr….
We went to our Vtown library today.
Cancelled mom’s account.
Had a cry with our wonderful, caring library clerks.
Just a normal day in the hood.
Oh ya, we also got some books.
The boys picked up a skateboard book. They disappeared downstairs into Nana and Papa’s great basement.
While downstairs, they discovered this half pipe photo in the library book.
My parents have always had plywood boards with cut outs in them to create and play with. We had them as kids, then we gave them to our local elementary school in PG.
A few years ago, my dad made five more wooden boards for the grand kids to make forts, stores, and theatres with.
Today was a first for the boards in the Jenkins’ family – a half pipe.
I wonder what Nana would say.
"Be" ENOUGH 