turtles and tapestries

I deamt I was on the moon.  I looked out and saw the world and it was on the back of Old Turtle.  Turtle asked me about the world.  He said he had been holding it up for so long- How long again-  For eternity, I answered.  -How long is that- Forever, I replied.  -How long is that-

I shrugged, A very long time.

He told me that he had been holding it up for so long yet he had never seen it or, if he had, he could no longer remember what it had looked like.

He sighed a great deep sigh that only old Turtle could sigh.

Are you tired, Old Turtle?  I asked.

Sometimes, was his reply.  But most times I just wish I could see and feel things as I once did.  Old eyes and a tired back...time corrodes us all.  Nothing lasts forever.

I nodded my head in agreement and Old Turtle squinted at me through aged yellow eyes.

Everyone carries a world on their back, Short Timer, he said to me.  In that, we are all the same.

....

I awake in the morning and it is so still.  The tide of my breath and the rhythm of my heart against a background of silence makes me feel a million miles away.  A million miles away and still tethered to a single point in time.  

I remember that the world still spins and my tapestry is still being spun in shades of golds and blues and grays on an invisible loom.  But a new color is being spun too -added to the golds and blues and grays- and it has already begun to change the landscape.  I touch my belly and briefly wonder about the possibility beating away there.  A waver of hope, too intimidating to contemplate.  

Stay.  Please stay with us this time.

My mind shifts.

I arch my back.  I feel the grind of the weight of my world on my spine.  Still there, I think.  Always there.  

And another day begins.

....

white squares and upcoming events

Some weeks ago we got a piece of mail from the hospital where George was born. In it was a square of white fabric and a letter explaining that it was time for their annual "Forever in our Hearts" ceremony to commemorate all the babies who died during the previous year. The white square, which will be added to a quilt, was for us to decorate in whatever way we want to memorialize George.

Also last month we got a refund check from the hospital. Apparently we were overcharged 150.00 for George's delivery. Hmmph.

Sometimes I forget that George ever even existed to anyone but to me and to Leif. People generally tend not to bring him up anymore in conversation unless we do so first. As we come closer to the one year anniversary of his birth and death, it is increasingly strange to get these kind of reminders that he was indeed real in this world.

Next week brings us to the year mark when last year everything went to shit. We walked into an appointment at the perinatologist as blissful expectant parents and walked out a few hours later nearly catatonic with shock.  

I'm not sure how these next six weeks are going to go for us. The other night we finished his memory square, sent it off to the hospital and I emailed the coordinator to see what we could do at the event to help. We are still trying to figure out what to do for him next month. We are taking the day off from work but beyond that we don't know what feels appropriate.

We never had a memorial service for him and I don't think we will this time either, even though I do eventually want one.  I just don't even know where to start planning such a thing.  Invitations?  Is there food?  We aren't religious so what would we do?  It all seems overwhelming.  Part of me feels guilty that we haven't had one but the other part of me feels like it just isn't us.

What kind of fucked up shit is it that these are the kind of events that some people have to plan for their (dead) child?  It is some real fucked up shit is what it is.

For those of you who read this and know what being here is all about, how did you commemorate your child's life?

yesterday

Leif and I don't generally celebrate Valentine's Day.  A card or something but that is about it.  But this year things were different.

It all started with a...Valentine's Day Heart Potato!

Got home from work and was greeted by a dozen paper hearts hanging from the ceiling, each with a different word, nickname, or saying that was special to us.

We had leftover casserole and salad for dinner.  Then we watched a French documentary about animals that love each other (sorry, can't remember the name).  It was an adorableness explosion.

Then Leif gave me a huge piece of chocolate cake from Pheonix Bakery in Chinatown.  I only mentioned three times that the most important part of Valentine's Day is CHOCOLATE.  He is awesome, my husband.

It was the best Valentine's Day we've ever had.

oh, comely

When I held George and watched him die I went with him into that oblivion, I just didn't realize it at the time. Now, nearing eleven months later I am finally starting to understand how deeply and fundamentally his death has changed me.

I woke up the morning of March 31, 2010 as one person only to awake the next morning as another person entirely.

I'm reminded of the guy who wakes up from an extended coma only to find that he doesn't remember himself or any of his friends and family.  The things he used to hate he wakes up to love.  Couldn't stand peanut butter but now eats it out of the jar.  The things he used to love doing he doesn't have any interest in anymore. But even he's got it better for it is far worse to remember who you were before but be incapable of being who you were before.

I miss the woman I used to be.  I still remember her.  She did not carry around with her the ghost of her son. She used to be quick to smile and even quicker to laugh.  She used to see the world as a mostly positive place.  She used to relate well to people and make deep, lasting relationships with ease.  She was also naive and blissfully unaware at just how sad real sad can actually be.

I'm not sure who or what I am at this point but I know I am not any of those things anymore.

I'm not just mourning the death of my son but also the death of myself.  

I wish I could have saved her in some sort of time machine.