Mply

80. Memory Is a Gift
that Death Cannot Destroy

A few days after her father’s funeral, Eileen decided to visit
with her Mom. When she arrived at the family home, Margurita was
very glad to see her daughter, and met her in the entrance with a
warm hug.

As Eileen entered the kitchen, she noticed the empty rocking
chair, and her Dad’s slippers under it; they had remained undisturbed,
since he had gone. At the sight of them, Eileen burst into tears -
she could still picture her father sitting in the rocking chair, wearing
his_ slippers.

Eileen had come to the home to comfort her mother, but now
it was Margurita who comforted her daughter instead. Margurita told
Eileen not to cry. Eileen responded that the sight of the slippers had
started it. She fought back the tears.

Margurita went to the rocking chair and picked up the slippers.
She then put them in the closet. She told Eileen that Alphy is gone
to a better place and that it would be selfish of us to want him
back. Eileen choked back the tears... she wanted to cry, but felt this
would only upset her mother.

Eileen stayed only for a short visit that day. In her heart
Eileen knew she had to accept that her Dad was gone, but still she
needed to mourn the loss. On her way back, Eileen felt a wet, salty
tear run down her cheek. It was okay to cry.

For a long time afterwards, when Eileen saw her mother she
remained guarded to keep from crying. Margurita spoke tenderly of
Alphy, and sometimes her eyes would brim with tears, but still
Margurita did not give herself permission to cry until...

It was several months after Alphy had gone to that eternal
shore: Velda, Eileen and their Mom had gone to a musical concert
in Tignish. The singer sang traditional songs, as he strummed the

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