Book of Days

” The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”  -   Marcus T. Cicero  c. 106-43 BC, Roman orator/politician

Yesterday Josh and I had a long heart talk about family and dying and living. We received a call in the morning that my husband’s father, who has been ill and was just diagnosed with lung cancer, had taken a sudden turn for the worst. My husband flew back home, across country, to be with his dad and his family.

In talking to Josh about his Grandpa and everything going on, I found myself sharing with him stories that I knew of his Grandpa and ones especially with his Grandpa and dad. Telling stories is nothing new to us as this is the only way Josh knows his maternal Grandma, my mother, who died before he was born. Josh says though he feels as if he knows her because I am always sharing memories of her or repeating one of “Grandma’s sayings”.  And so it just felt right to talk about times and memories of Grandpa as we waited to hear news.

 As I was looking for a poem or quote to use, I came across the quote at the top of this post and it said what I was trying to convey to Josh. We don’t really ever lose the ones we love. We carry them in our hearts, in our thoughts and most importantly in our memories and in their stories. Even so, it is so very hard to say goodbye.