Day 26 Talking to my parents

When was the last time you talked with your parents? How did the conversation go?

I last talked with my mother at her grave in 2003. She had absolutely no choice but to listen as I poured out my heart for about two hours. I am certain that I heard in my mind, “It’s going to be o.k. baby.” And because I was facing a terrible day in court the next day, and had come to tell her all about it, I gained a little courage with her words of reassurance.

I last talked to my Dad by phone, three days before he died. He lived alone and wouldn’t go to a doctor. I had called from far away each day begging him to go, asking if he wanted me to fly in. I sent people to check on him. He would not admit or accept that he needed help. The last time we talked, he told me he had called my half sister who was coming by. They had been estranged for many years. He seemed so happy she agreed to come over. I felt relieved hoping she would make him go to a doctor. I had only met her one time. The next call was from my Dad’s brother saying I needed to come. He had found my Dad on the floor…gone.

 

Parents. Probably the most loaded word in the entire world. (For many of us, can’t live with them and can’t live without them.) Beautiful and sad poignant stories you shared here, Mtnjac.