The quiet...

Posted by: @bob-jackman

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@perrone1 Tony I know that you know first hand what a tragedy losing a child can be and a  son in law. It's never something you can ever forget. Bless you and Shirl my friend.

Posted by: @perrone1

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"It's not supposed to be that way. THAT quiet is never, ever overcome."

As we discussed a while back, this is something you must learn to live with..... you never forget, you never overcome. 

Posted by: @sizedoesmatter

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"....read through your personal phone book and see how many of your family and friends are no longer with us."

I dare not, for it would be too sad.  😔 😔   

Earlier on this thread, I mentioned the passing of my best friend last year - what I didn't mention, however, is that 2 months later my sister passed, then a month later two of my wife's dear friends passed away, one of which stood up with my best friend at my wedding. 

These two people, on the far right of my wedding photo, are no longer with us; they died 3 months apart.        Think they're talking about that - up there?     😇 😇  

@sizedoesmatter Sad, but true.

Of my immediate family of 6, both parents and two middle brothers are gone. Just me, the oldest and my youngest brother left. On my father's side grand parents and his siblings and spouses gone. On mother's side all uncles and three cousins gone. Couple of aunts not doing well. I used to put flowers on graves on Memorial day. The total distance and time caused my to have to stop.

My oldest brother lost his wife last year after 60 years of marriage; then in October lost my son in law in a motorcycle accident; the father of the young man waving at you from my Corvette. We’re still not over that loss.

@david-vandermeer ...as a good friend told me, last year....   "Death is final."     

All we can do is move forward best we can......  some days are better than others. 

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower?
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind...

...and remember fondly what once was.

My family has always tried to take death in their stride. I never met my maternal grandfather as he passed 8 years before I was born.  I lost my paternal grandmother when I was 10. So death was just an accepted part of life. You mourned and moved on and the family kept people who passed alive with stories. My family is big on remembering with stories. 

But life was never the same after my father passed away.  He was my “boy”. I had his attention all my life. I learned so much from him. He was serious and you never questioned it.  He was a comedian and you laughed with him. He had great joy and contentment with his marriage and two boys. He is gone 25 years and I still miss him but then I think of him and remember the stories about him and smile and move on.

Yet another anniversary.  Rob was my life and companion for 20 years and I lost him on 9/11.  He was a Mensa, IQ above 160, he sang and danced on Broadway in 'Chorus Line'.  Rob was acknowledged for his writing.  He was writing a book before his death.  Over the decades I have lost everyone I loved.  But I go foreword, alone.

You get to an age, and the pain is less every year someone else dies.  I lost my Rob, 9/11, still morn.  I miss him so desperately.

@abaucom My best to you tomorrow; anniversaries are rarely easy - the days prior seem to always be the worst.   People die twice... when they cease to exist and after their name is spoken for the last time.    Rob is still with us.

Thanks.