jjackieblue's Journal

We all have been surprised at how well James has been doing in response to his father's passing on Wed. His sister Judy said that he got solemn and quiet. Then asked when? James said that he wanted to go to church with his father. Judy told him that his father couldn't do that anymore. When his other sister Barbara brought him home, James told me about it and about how both our fathers were gone. Later that evening, he wrote a note and wanted me to read it. "I miss my father" he had written and I told him that I missed my father too. The next morning Thursday, he showed me his notebook that he had written down memories of his father and I told him that he should keep doing that. Later, his sister Judy called and wanted James to see his father before the funeral as James didn't want to go to the visitation the next evening. I volunteered to take him that night. It was 6:15pm when we arrived at the funeral home and the man had just locked the door and was outside. He let us in and showed us where the father was. James and I stood by the casket. He looked at his father and said "He's gone". I told him that now he was somewhere else and then James gave me a big hug. He then leaned over and kissed his father on the cheek. On the drive home, James wanted to know who would take his father's place and take him out to eat. I told him that his sisters would take turns and pick him up every Sunday. James said Oh, yeah.

The funeral was Saturday at the church where James and his father would go every Sunday. On the way to church, I asked how he was feeling. He's happy that his father is now with his mother. At the church, James had a big smile and enjoyed hugging people. I'm really amazed at how well he is doing. I keep expecting him to break down and cry.