Faith & Roses

Long ago, my father had returned from one of his two Naval stays in Japan with a beautiful silkscreen of a tiger, which he quickly made a frame for. That tiger was a part of our household as far back as I can remember. It sure is beautiful. I remember Mom telling me how much her grandson Douglas loved it, and how she promised it to him.

Some time ago, when Mom was “directing” me to dispense and/or give away more of her things, I took the “tiger” home with me. I hung it in my apartment and basked in its presence. Seriously. I would say the tiger is just about one of my most favorite animals… I would say I felt a warmth coming into me when I looked at it … I felt my father’s presence … and I assured Mom that when I died, I would see to it that Douglas got the silkscreen.

Today, after I spoke to the funeral home to settle the information regarding the engraving for Mom on the DiPasquale’s family headstone, I met my niece, Jen, at Mom’s and I offered some of Mom’s belongings to her… Jen is Douglas’s wife. I brought the tiger with me back to Mom’s and I asked Jen to take it home and give it to Douglas. I knew he would be thrilled and I knew Mom would be happy.

When Jen left, I rested at Mom’s. Sat in her recliner (a/k/a The Throne). Looked around; smelled her house; played a video game on my phone… So quiet. The heartbeat that my childhood home always held for me stopped beating when Mom’s heart did.

I know that I have more work to do here … to get the house empty and ready to sell. Strange times. Intellectually understandable. But mentally, emotionally and spiritually strange times…..