Grandpa’s Funeral – My Memento Mori
GRANDPA’S FUNERAL – MY MEMENTO MORI
It was in the wee hours of the morning when the telephone gave a shrill cry of urgency – alarming, awesome and awakening. As if commanded by some magic wand, all the lights in the house came on but nobody ventured to attend to the call. Now it was my mother of stout heart and great courage who picked up the instrument. Soon the room was filled with all members of the household eagerly looking at Mother for the news. It was painfully obvious to all of us that even her strong disposition had deserted her for she was sobbing on the phone. She then broke the news to us – Grandpa had passed away. We came together holding each other in one group hug; as for myself, I broke away and in the comfort of my room, went into an uncontrollable fit of sobbing.
I remembered visiting Grandpa the previous week when he surprised me by disclosing that he had been putting some money aside for my further education and wanted to give it to me then; apparently he had a premonition, the details of which he was reluctant to share with me. He then went to his desk, withdrew a chequebook from a drawer and in his inimitable style wrote out a cheque which through the corner of my eye was to the tune of $10,000. I was overwhelmed by his generosity, but then again I was the first born grandson and hence his favourite. I reached out and gave him a big hug, whereupon he reminded me that the gift was from both of them. On reaching home I wrung out the last vestiges of my memory searching for clues relating to Grandpa’s premonition. I eventually fell into a restless sleep, full of self denial and dreams of conflicting circumstances surrounding my loss. On awakening, Grandpa’s premonition was crystal clear to me.
The following morning, dressed in somber clothes, we had a hurried breakfast before bundling ourselves into the car for the long journey. Grandpa lived in a small town about three hours from home. During the drive my family was sharing
It was in the wee hours of the morning when the telephone gave a shrill cry of urgency – alarming, awesome and awakening. As if commanded by some magic wand, all the lights in the house came on but nobody ventured to attend to the call. Now it was my mother of stout heart and great courage who picked up the instrument. Soon the room was filled with all members of the household eagerly looking at Mother for the news. It was painfully obvious to all of us that even her strong disposition had deserted her for she was sobbing on the phone. She then broke the news to us – Grandpa had passed away. We came together holding each other in one group hug; as for myself, I broke away and in the comfort of my room, went into an uncontrollable fit of sobbing.
I remembered visiting Grandpa the previous week when he surprised me by disclosing that he had been putting some money aside for my further education and wanted to give it to me then; apparently he had a premonition, the details of which he was reluctant to share with me. He then went to his desk, withdrew a chequebook from a drawer and in his inimitable style wrote out a cheque which through the corner of my eye was to the tune of $10,000. I was overwhelmed by his generosity, but then again I was the first born grandson and hence his favourite. I reached out and gave him a big hug, whereupon he reminded me that the gift was from both of them. On reaching home I wrung out the last vestiges of my memory searching for clues relating to Grandpa’s premonition. I eventually fell into a restless sleep, full of self denial and dreams of conflicting circumstances surrounding my loss. On awakening, Grandpa’s premonition was crystal clear to me.
The following morning, dressed in somber clothes, we had a hurried breakfast before bundling ourselves into the car for the long journey. Grandpa lived in a small town about three hours from home. During the drive my family was sharing