Six children, two children in law, three grandchildren, one grandchild in law, one ex child in law, one dog and countless friends, neighbours and colleagues gathered round one wife, mother and grandmother like iron filings to a magnet to say goodbye to a much loved and respected husband, father, grandfather, friend.
Tears were cried, baked goods were brought, the ring of the doorbell and the telephone were as regular as the ticking of the clock and the air as flat as a day old glass of water. Cards fell through the door, one after another, offering comfort, advice, condolences and memories of a businessman, musician, gentleman and friend.
A girl was overwhelmed by the kindnesses of strangers who left comments, forwarded poems that had comforted them in their times of loss and sent their wishes of comfort from places near and far.
And then it was over. She was back in her own house, in her own room with a hundred things to do. And so life went on although the loss was a constant ache in her heart and the silence weighed heavy on her soul and in the silence she tried to hear his music and in her confusion she tried to hear his advice for although his physical support was no longer there the wise words that had guided his family formed an invisible safety net all around them. Although he was gone he left a million tunes playing softly in the air.
Photo by me.
Friday, April 17, 2009