Phone calls at 4.30am are rarely good news. Debbie's sister Colleen died today. Debbie knew what the call was about at the first ring. Cancer, long delayed, had moved from the breasts to the lungs. We only knew it was terminal a couple of days ago.
In death there is life.
A nurse was with her when she died. She'd been in a coma all night. the nurse said she opened her eyes, looked up high into the corner of the room, closed them again and took her last breath. Debbie thinks she was looking into a good place, a place where her parents are.
In death there is life.
Colleen was a wonderful, strong person. She was 15 years older than Debbie. Since Debbie's parents died her home had come to seem Debbie's home back in Maine. Colleen and Debbie's nephew Robbie visited us three years ago, when Matthew was nine months old. The four of us travelled around the South Island in our car. Colleen snored horribly at night when we all slept in cabins together. She marvelled at the scenery, and got homesick for her family back in Maine. She had a wonderful laugh.
In death there is life.
And we sat together this morning, in the pale light of early morning, in the slight chill of the living room, and talked with Ellery (her son), and then went back and laid in bed. She died on her mother's birthday. We lay there with our child growing and ready in Debbie's belly. Colleen would have loved this child as she loved Matthew.
In death there is life.
last | nextJournals and blogs that I read regularly
Raising Hell
Feral Living
Hippycritical
Udder
My Life in 12 Point Font
Journal of a Writing Man
Some Jingle Jangle Morning
The Last Girl Scout
Potatoe.com
Journallife.com
Window to my Soul
Chickybabe
Sorabji.com
Yesterday's Makeup
Fifteen Milliliters
Fly Away
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Photo of tunnel copyright Bernd Klumpp, available from istockphoto.com