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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