A Lazy Morning With and Without You
Good Friday, April 18, 2014
Dear Will,
It’s a(nother) dreary morning and because there is no place I need to be, there is no rush to climb out of bed. The only good I can find about this morning is that I have chosen to spend it with you. I lay here plumped up against pillows listening to Finn who has just jumped onto the bed for his regular morning visit and after he has unsuccessfully tried many of his nuances to get us up and downstairs he has given up and instead now lays beside me, stretched out, and snoring. Dad is on his side of our bed, reading quietly, seemingly also reluctant to get out of bed this morning. Writing to you seems just the right thing to do.
I remember how when you were little you’d sneak into our bed in the early mornings, climb in between Dad and I and wiggle your little body under the covers. I remember how you’d try to be quiet (?), how you’d try to put your little arms around my neck, but because they weren’t long enough they’d dangle uncomfortably in my eyes. I remember how I could feel your breath on my shoulder or my face and how sometimes you’d be so close I could feel your eyelashes brush ever so lightly against my skin. As you grew and as your brothers can attest to, the rule about crawling into bed with Dad and I changed to being able to build a nest beside our bed with no questions asked. We believed that no matter how big you were, if that’s where you needed to be then that’s where you needed to be. I remember so fondly the many early mornings and the many middle of the nights after a bad dream too, I’d hear you coming down the hall… the sound of you carrying and dragging all of your things from your room to our room, to my side of the bed where I’d wake, and in the darkness or early morning light I’d help you make your nest on the floor beside our bed. All the pillows you could find to lie on were carefully placed, then came your fluffy duvet pulled right off your bed, your little blanket (the one so shredded and torn that still gave you comfort into adolescence and that will always have a place in your memory box), sometimes a stuffy or two or ten and voila, the Willy nest was complete. Will, I swear there were times when your nest was more comfortable than our bed. I know this because I also remember as clear as if it were yesterday the many times when I’d snuggle with you in your nest on the floor for a few minutes before I’d crawl back into my bed.
I love these memories more than anything I own. But now as tears run down my cheeks I wish there were more. I wish I had memories of you into the next phase of your young life; a life that should have been but couldn’t be. Memories of you as a teenager I will never have. As a young adult and an adult there will be none. The many memories I do have are precious beyond anything I have because they are all I have. I know this to be true of all parents who have lost a child.
As I look out of my bedroom window having earlier watched the morning mist turn to rain and now the white fluffy stuff, I know it is you, Will, yet again letting us know you are here. It really is quite enough now, Willy. Please, please stop with the snow! A ray of sunshine, even a raindrop would be most welcome right about now. You know what they say, “it takes both the rain and the sun to make a rainbow” and though I look for you in all forms, a rainbow would be a most welcome Willy sighting right about now!
Love you, little blue. More than anything. Even a bus.
Momxo
Discover more from Joni Bouchard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Will’s Memorial Rock – Fernie, BC
Oh, that is so strange, but wonderful to hear that our son was not the only one to make a “nest” on my side of the bed on the floor!! I guess that’s as close as they could get since they were too big to be in the “big bed” as we called it. I would reach down and stroke his hair or back and you actually found your way down to join him for awhile. Thats’ so cool Joni! In our room, there wasn’t enough room between the bed and dresser. He seemed to be so comfy there but I always thought it must not have been that comfortable. Then I’d try to remind myself not to step on him by accident if I got up in the middle of the night. Once or twice I didn’t remember LOL, I love the picture of Will with his tousled blond hair all ready to get into the “serious” business of playing with all his vehicles. I hope you have a nice Easter; I’m sure you will be remembering years of the boys decorating and hunting for Easter eggs. I miss those days as mine are all too big now. Happy Easter, Joni! I’ll be watching for Will’s rainbow and yes….enough snow thanks.
Hi Cheryl, thanks so much for your comment. I have to tell you that I always look forward to hearing from you. You are so sweet to share your “ordinary” moments with me about your children. They are the ones that I miss the most. Glad you had the “nest” too! My guys would build a nest beside our bed even when their long legs would hang out the bottom. Sigh. Such good memories. So much love. Thanks, Cheryl. Happy Easter to you, too.
so true. I love how you can put your thoughts onto paper. Now my biggest hurts are the ones we have with Tamara and Curtis is (or not) missing them. I have to believe he is watching over us. And little Will with his lonng eyelashes how any girl would wish for. As life after death experiences have incountered they are watching us and are together:-) There will be a rainbow soon. And lots of sunshine 🙂
Hi Carol! So great to hear from you. I am glad I can share my love letters with you because I know that you can relate to all that I have to say. I have been thinking about you so much lately; really missing you. Has been a hard week with the tragedies here in Calgary. The whole thing has thrown me right back into those moments, minutes, hours, days… So very sad.
I can understand your hurts with regards to Tamara growing up and maybe not “wearing” that she misses her dad. Always remember that she is part of him. Always was, always will be. I believe that every single time she looks at herself in the mirror she sees her Daddy. Love you, Carol. Am really hoping we can get together soon. xo
Yup, the floor bed beside Mom. Best bed ever. Just had to make sure it wasn’t where I would step on them in the middle of the night!! Except now, I let them in…my bed has too much space. Oh these hurting moments, they just settle upon the heart with a smile and a tear. Much love Joni.
Yes, Maaike, so many hurting moments as you know. My world, and yours, full of so many bittersweets. Much love to you too, M, and when I think of your kids climbing into your big bed it makes my heart smile. Xo