Time waits for no man
I was clearing out some drawers at the weekend and came across an envelope containing Greg's personal effects. It had been given to me by the hospital a few days after he died. I was vaguely aware of its contents, having briefly opened the envelope and looked in, but I had put it in a drawer to look though another time, when I felt a bit stronger. As the months went by, I would often go to the drawer for something else, see the envelope and decide against opening it, until the right moment came along. As I say, I was clearing out drawers over the weekend and came across it again. I sat down, took a deep breath and opened it.
Amongst things like his wallet and credit cards was his watch. Still working like, pardon the pun, clockwork and on wintertime too, so it was appropriate it should be found again this weekend, as the clocks had gone back one hour to wintertime again. It made a lump form in my throat and hot tears try to force their unsolicited way from my eyes. Greg has gone, but his watch lives on. How ironic.
16 comments:
It shows how far you have come that you felt strong enough to open than envelope. Cherish Greg's watch and the time you had together.
Well done for that and let those tears come.
a watch... just a watch.... but so much more - a very touching post
It's always difficult going through personal effects of a loved one, but they have memories and this obviously has some significance in your life.
CJ xx
Hugs. xxx
It was brave of you to look at his personal items, his watch especially. I suppose there comes a time when you have to face these things, but it doesn't mean that it is easy. You made another step in your grieving process. Well done.
I have the suspicion that those left behind suffer most. But well done for the progress you've made.
I have my wife's old Omega Genève Dynamic with a blue and silver dial. I gave it her as an engagement present and we had it restored a year or so before she died. [Foolishly, I used to be a watch collector] That's one item I shall never part with!
That Grumpy Old Ken is a wise man as is Flowerpot and Nora.
Grief can be two steps forward and one step back but you are moving in the right direction.
Very brave. I'm still sat on a similar envelope from 1992. One day ...
Hi Addy,
It is a very poignant find and very timely. I would imagine your emotions are still very raw and you are going to have moments like this while you continue to clear out. I do hope things ease for you.
All the best
Nechtan
Another hurdle Addy and you made it, well done. A very emotional moment nonetheless. Ax
I have just discovered your blog and I am very moved by it but not brave enough to read more than the first and last posts right now.
I believe I have finally found the way to save my current family from me, but not before having destroyed at least two others.
These poems (here) (here) (here) show how I have struggled over the years, and your blog is just one more brick in the wall which will help me to lead the life I should be leading, for myself and for others, and for that I thank you. One of the poems even has 'Daze' in the title - how about that?
Well done for opening that envelope. Isn't amazing how inanimate objects endure and we don't? It always reminds me of the words of the funeral service: 'Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live. He groweth up like a flower and is cut down'. Beautiful, sad, true words xx
It is all about finding the right moment. There were certain things I couldn't face doing last year but found that I could do them given time. I used to think of "small bites" of doing things at a time, a pace, a moment. I thought that I could always run away from it if I felt that I could not go on.
Hadriana xx
(((((hugs)))))
Post a Comment