As Thing 2 and I are relaxing, waiting for Doc and Thing 1 to finish reading, he starts this conversation.
T: Mom, are you gonna die?
M: Some day...but not for a long time
T: (eyes well up and the chin starts quivering) But you can't die.
M: It won't happen for a long time, and even when it does happen, I will always be with you.
big hug
T: Mom, does a camel have hooves?
M: Yes, a camel does have hooves
T: blathering on about camels and then...
T: Mom, do you know the day Boompa died?
M: Yes (tears welling up on me now), yes I do remember.
T: (tears again) Why did Boompa die?
M ( I blather on about being old and tired and God needing him)
T: And now he's gone forever (crying) But he's in my heart! Boompa's in my heart!
M (trying to hold it together) Yes, Boompa is in your heart, he'll be there forever.
T: Mom, what's the plural of ox?
And thus ends the roller coaster of a conversation before bed time. The most ironic thing, is that I have been missing my father a lot lately, and right before Thing 2 brought dying up, I was thinking about how much my father would have loved helping Thing2. What with all of his issues and how friggin funny he is. My father was so kind and patient. So once again, Boompa comes to me through Brian to remind me that he is here with me all the time. Just not necessarily the way I want him to be.
