Warm and sunny with a businesslike breeze. Blue skies with sunshine sparkling on the lake.
Today in Germany they're saying goodbye to Ernst, the grandfather of my children. He left us so suddenly and it's hard to believe we'll never be seeing him again.
And yet he's everywhere in this house. His Wellington boots are by the door and his slippers are in the dressing room waiting for him to visit us again. In the drawer here there's a catapult he made for AJ out of a metal bottle closure, a rubber band and a piece of wood. In the freezer there are still supplies of his famous sauerkraut. And hanging from a hook in the kitchen, is his left-handed potato peeler.
And he's in my hands when I peel an apple in one spiral like he showed me or when I chop an onion into tiny perfect cubes.
And of course he's in the smile of my daughter, which so closely resembles his, and he's there in my husband, whom he helped to make and then gave to me to love.
Perhaps this is what it means to be a ghost.
Friday, 28 March 2008
Ernst
Warm and sunny with a businesslike breeze. Blue skies with sunshine sparkling on the lake.
Today in Germany they're saying goodbye to Ernst, the grandfather of my children. He left us so suddenly and it's hard to believe we'll never be seeing him again.
And yet he's everywhere in this house. His Wellington boots are by the door and his slippers are in the dressing room waiting for him to visit us again. In the drawer here there's a catapult he made for AJ out of a metal bottle closure, a rubber band and a piece of wood. In the freezer there are still supplies of his famous sauerkraut. And hanging from a hook in the kitchen, is his left-handed potato peeler.
And he's in my hands when I peel an apple in one spiral like he showed me or when I chop an onion into tiny perfect cubes.
And of course he's in the smile of my daughter, which so closely resembles his, and he's there in my husband, whom he helped to make and then gave to me to love.
Perhaps this is what it means to be a ghost.
Today in Germany they're saying goodbye to Ernst, the grandfather of my children. He left us so suddenly and it's hard to believe we'll never be seeing him again.
And yet he's everywhere in this house. His Wellington boots are by the door and his slippers are in the dressing room waiting for him to visit us again. In the drawer here there's a catapult he made for AJ out of a metal bottle closure, a rubber band and a piece of wood. In the freezer there are still supplies of his famous sauerkraut. And hanging from a hook in the kitchen, is his left-handed potato peeler.
And he's in my hands when I peel an apple in one spiral like he showed me or when I chop an onion into tiny perfect cubes.
And of course he's in the smile of my daughter, which so closely resembles his, and he's there in my husband, whom he helped to make and then gave to me to love.
Perhaps this is what it means to be a ghost.
5 comments:
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Charlotte Rains Dixon said...
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What a beautiful post and fitting tribute to your father-in-law.
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Friday, 28 March, 2008
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Louise | Italy said...
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Thank-you, Charlotte. L
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Friday, 28 March, 2008
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La Famille Braun-Eckhardt said...
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Beautiful.
He's not gone... he's all around you, inside you, part of you and your family.
That post really touched me. Thank you! -
Friday, 28 March, 2008
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Gypsy at Heart said...
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Louise, I've arrived late to give you my condolences and to tell you how beautiful these words of tribute are. You've made my heart ache with them. May your Ernst rest in peace and may you and your family continue to find solace in those reminders of his presence which were left behind. My thoughts are with you at this time. So very sorry for your loss.
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Thursday, 03 April, 2008
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Louise | Italy said...
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Our house is veiled in sadness. But kind and thoughtful words such as yours do really help. Thank-you.
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Thursday, 03 April, 2008
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5 comments:
What a beautiful post and fitting tribute to your father-in-law.
Thank-you, Charlotte. L
Beautiful.
He's not gone... he's all around you, inside you, part of you and your family.
That post really touched me. Thank you!
Louise, I've arrived late to give you my condolences and to tell you how beautiful these words of tribute are. You've made my heart ache with them. May your Ernst rest in peace and may you and your family continue to find solace in those reminders of his presence which were left behind. My thoughts are with you at this time. So very sorry for your loss.
Our house is veiled in sadness. But kind and thoughtful words such as yours do really help. Thank-you.
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