Thursday, May 28, 2020

Where does love go to die?

Question for you. Where does love go to die? Does it just end up in a graveyard of documents, with bank records, divorce papers and junior high yearbooks?

Our son who died at 51 on April 21 had most of his life and memories packed into 8 cardboard "banker's boxes," which I've been going through. All neatly labeled. Lose papers in file folders. They were in a closet with his grandpa's fishing vest and pipe rack, and Christmas decorations which he didn't use in 2019 because he was mad at God. His friend Keith helped me bring them to our house and I've been sorting and pitching.

Last night's task was his school annuals, business management coursework from Columbus State (he got an A which I don’t ever recall seeing before), several packages of photos of a 1973 Olds to be restored, parts catalogs, owner's manuals, ideas for songs and poems, and. . . love notes and cards between him and his former wife and him and his step-daughter. There it was--evidence. Yes, they all went in the trash sack along with elementary school report cards. How many times does a mom need to read, "Phil is charming, but could do better if he'd just apply himself." Who would want notes of a dead love?

I had a really good chat with her and her daughter (now 29--can hardly believe it) after she called me on Mother's Day. She lives in California now and I'll probably never see them again. Where does love go to die?

No comments: