Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Conversations with the dead


Those cars of my youth (50’s)

Now today:
I just returned from the kitchen where I had a conversation with Shirley my departed sister. It was a year ago and in the course of life that is recent. I must be honest, it was a one-sided conversation.

Do you ever talk to the dead?

Of course so far I have gotten no answer, but I keep talking.  It may be just for personal satisfaction. I have apologized, praised and thanked them. Even been angry because they left me at the wrong time.

Some I have had just a simple one way conversation with to tell them how I appreciated them and their love.

In all honesty I hope they know I think of them, but I am not sure if it is more for me. I am smiling because the only grave I have visited to speak to someone was Sherry’s mother. Susie was a special lady who died in my arms as I was trying CPR, to no avail. That day is real to me. Sherry reminds me that her mom had cooked a good breakfast. Then cut Wiley, her husband and Mark (our son)’s hair that day. We were all visiting in Sister Lennie’s home when Susie held her hand over her heart and collapsed.


 (Susie with Jack jr, holding his new brother Mark. Susie was with Sherry for both births.JJ in Mississippi and Mark in Missouri)

As a contractor I drove around a lot, and many days just stopped by Susie’s grave to talk.  I mentioned that to Sherry once and she smiled saying she did the same.

We shared many of the same thoughts of her mother.

I think it must be normal, or I ain’t normal anyway !
Nite Shipslog

10 comments:

betty said...

I think God was merciful in how quickly Sherry's mom died, though of course everyone missed her and still miss her. Just an ordinary day for her and then called home later that day. I just found out that one of my favorite Christian teaching authors, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, had died 2 weeks ago at home of a heart attack at the age of 65. Like Sherry's mom, she had an ordinary day, even skyping with one of her grandchildren a few hours earlier, making plans to see them the following weekend. In that case I also think God was merciful, even though of course her family dearly miss her, because her husband died after a long battle with cancer back in 2005. It just reminds us that life is so precious and can be so short. I don't talk to the dead; I don't have too many thankfully that I would want to talk to, but I did tell God the first year a lot after my mom died to say hi to her for me and to say I love her.

betty

Woody said...

As a Boy of 9 -10 My Father would take us for a ride, we would stop at the Cemetary, Dad would get out an say, "Hell'o Harold, Hell'o Uncle Al, Hell'o Sis, and on he would go, We tagged along, as we got older we asked him what on earth he was doing, My Father said: " If I call out the name of my Uncles, Aunts, My Sister, My Friends they are not forgotten, Not as long as some one Remembers them" ! I carry on that tradition along with some of my Brothers ! Sending down Hugs and Love from the Warm North Country !!! Gary an Anna Mae

Susan Kane said...

Special Dad. My own dad always took a cemetery tour over my trips home. In a small community, there were so many little country cemeteries around family farms.

The Hispanics have a Dia de Los Muertos on Nov. 1, where families would gather at loved ones' graves and have a family party. They believed that as long as they are remembered, they will wake from their eternal sleep to enjoy celebrations with their family.

Lisa said...

Nope never have. I talk to myself, does that count?
I’m am sure that one day, I will talk to someone I miss that is dear to me. A grand parent is the closet I’ve come and I just feel like once they are gone, they are gone. I have asked God to give them a message for me. I think he works like that was sometimes.

We never forget those that leave ahead of us.
Lisa

Glenda said...

Precious memories of Sherry's mother...what a great lady and an inspiration. The photo of your precious boys wrapped in love says it all.
Pretty sure we all miss Shirl because your "tribe" of readers is family and your remembrances bring her memory back when you speak of her on the Shipslog.
Hugs, Glenda

Mevely317 said...

Yes … all the time! It's kind of comforting to know you do the same, Jack. I don't know for sure they hear our words … but neither do I believe that they don't!

NanaDiana said...

I often talk to my dad and sometimes to my brother and sometimes to my baby grandgirl. I think it helps me to process things.
I love that you had such a wonderful mother-in-law. That is a true blessing.
Hope you and Sherry have a wonderful night- Hugs- Diana

Chatty Crone said...

Oh my gosh yes - I talk to my mom - dad- and brother and friends at times. They don't answer me either. What is really hard is I still have dreams about them sometimes. It better be normal.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Oh yes, it's good to know I'm not the only ones that talks to the dead. Those dear ones we've loved and lost. We do keep them right in our hearts where they live forever. And I would agree too, that not all conversations are good ones. Ha ! Good thing they do not talk back! Ohio has become very tropical here the past few days, We finally have heat and humitdy. Summer has come!

Dar said...

I talk to a lot of my very missed family, especially Dad, my sister, baby brother who would be 52 already....grandparents, even Bill's mom who I never even met. I just know I love her for bringing up the best person in my life to be such a wonderful, kind and compassionate human being. I think speaking to them helps us along somehow. I know God understands our need of such a connection. Sherry's mom sounds like the most caring lady. The picture you show of her holding your babies is precious as gold.
love n' hugs from our warmed and well-watered north. Let the gardens prosper!