Thank you again for your caring and sharing. I can't believe it's been five days since Tiggy passed away. All the kids were home and I planned on taking them all out for breakfast or lunch to just share about the joy of having had her in our lives so long, and the sorrow of her passing.
Imagine my surprise when the realtor called to set up a showing in the afternoon. Ooops... first one with potential buyers in months. The kids, my son's girlfriend and I all started methodically straightening up the house. We kept going until it was done, then I took them out to lunch.
They were starving and food was devoured almost as quickly as it arrived. I'd try to bring up something about our pooch but they'd change the subject. I didn't push. At the end we all ended up telling our favorite stories about Tiggy, one building on the other. My oldest holds in his emotions and was vehement in not caring about 'emotions of grief being expressed.' Yep yep yep.. do what works.
It's tough. Their dad went to work the day we got back from his dad's funeral. His friends and coworkers sent him home. I get nervous.. I watch my daughter hold in her sorrow at times. My middle son say it's devastating losing Tiggy but remembered a story he wrote in second grade, called "Fortunately, Unfortunately".. In one part something unfortunate happened, but fortunately we adopted Tiggy. I kept all the books and stories they made, so I'll go looking for it. My oldest holds so much in. He's a man now.. I'm glad he has a loving girlfriend he is open with.
Earlier I'd been going through the photos, making an album of images with Tiggy.. and adding pictures of the kids at whatever age they were at that time. Still working on it. When I find a really cute one of her, I just sigh and smile so happily. And seeing her face I can remember what different emotions she was going through. "Si, si.. I'll pose and wage my tail with the sombero this six year old kid put on me."
It's heartening to see the images of Tiggy dashing around the yard with a ball in her mouth, how she'd leap over the safety gate to have full range of the house. It's wonderful to see how she was always there... a part of the family.
My middle son asked me if I'd told his dad about Tiggy's death. "Yes, as soon as I'd talked to each of you, I sent him a text." My son asked me if his sister had told him.. I didn't know.. but that I had, that I would not keep anything important from his father adding that I'd let his dad know about my father's/his grandfather's death. I worry/wonder about this son feeling like he has to be the go-between, the balance between us when it comes to information. What a self imposed burden. I guess I just want to reassure my middle son that I would never keep anything important from their father.
So.. the house was shown today.. and there's one scheduled for tomorrow. Hurray! I'm in a rural suburban area where people kinda have to want to live here. So the lower price must be right and the season must be starting. Hope springs eternal.
