The Funeral and I
Reflections from my father’s death
~My father passed away on the 1st of Aug 2021. I wanted to write about it and honor Him as best as I could. And so, this piece is about Him. ~
“It’s important to attend funerals. It is important to view the body, they say, and to see it committed to earth or fire because unless you do that, the loved one dies for you again and again.” — Ann-Marie MacDonald, Fall on Your Knees
Daddy looked like He was only sleeping. I was sure if I leaned close enough against His face, I could still hear Him breathing.
~The Day Before | Decisions~
The funeral was put together by the Others.
From the moment my cousin was called to the hospital where He died. Till He was buried in the wet earth. And for days afterwards.
Everything was organised by someone else.
We just couldn’t.
My sister and I were like two broken pieces of raft that swam whichever direction the waters were taking us but seeking to find some semblance of a tethering if not an anchor.
We clung to each other huddled on the stairs, in the midst of everyone trying to get everything just right. Questions came at us from every which direction for things that needed our urgent approval. We…