October 31, 2024
Volume 54 - No. 44
GRIEF
AN UNPLEASANT BUT UNAVOIDABLE PART OF LIFE By Friedrich Gomez I was the first to find my Mama’s lifeless body. She had a bad heart, which caused her to die of a heart attack. Once, when she took me with her to see her doctor, I overheard the cardiologist say to another doctor: “I’m amazed at how she’s still alive.”
It seems, at least for me, the longer she is missing from my life – the more intense I long for her and miss her loving presence. The way she’d pinch my cheeks and tell me just how beautiful I was, even when my clock was full of dirt or mud from playing outdoors. She had the rich Irish name of “Molly.”
Death took her from me way too soon.
My grief seems to intensify through the years, rather than dissipate.
All these years later, I still dream of my Mommy and my bereavement has never subsided.
I can never speak openly of this. Too personal.
The Paper • 760.747.7119 online: www.TheCommunityPaper.com
email: thepaper@cox.net
Too painful. And three times I have deleted this portion out of this cover story. Yes, I was the first to see my Mama’s lifeless body, sitting in her favourite sofa chair, as she was watching television. When I came into the house, at first, I thought she was sleeping in front of the TV; she looked so peaceful and restful. When I nudged her once, then twice, she slumped sideways and I screamed in stark terror over and over again . . . like a howling
pup without his mother. With my arms wrapped tightly around her I screamed to the Heavens: “NO! NO! PLEASE GOD! I’LL DO ANYTHING . . . BUT PLEASE GOD . . . DON’T TAKE MY MAMA AWAY FROM ME!!” My screams were so loud that our neighbour across the street (named Anne) ran towards our house and barged into our front door. Saw what had happened. And immediately cradled my quivering body as I fell to the floor on my knees, still screaming.
Grief
See Page 2