The Saddest Day Continued

As my mother and I tried to compose ourselves, thoughts were flooding into my brain, we have to call my aunt, we have to call my siblings, oh no Ne-Ne is out of the country. OH MY GOD, I HAVE TO TELL MY CHILDREN. What words would I use when I made these calls? Do you just blurt it out, "Poppa died this morning", or do you try to start the conversations with "Hey! How are you this morning? I have some bad news...." I decided to just pick up the phone. I guess I just figured the words would come when someone answered. As I made the necessary calls, the siblings, Mouse, the preachers, my dear friends, people started showing up. The same words were spoken by most, "I am so sorry", "What a shock", "How will we ever replace him?" All I could think was, you can't even imagine.

The Saddest Day of My Life

Well, it has been one week. Last Friday morning, July 18, my phone rang at 6:15 am. As I stumbled to the phone, trying to read the caller id, Mouse yelling "If that's Mae, tell her I am going in late (Mouse car pools with and older lady to the hell hole every day",) I have to admit that I was not expecting the voice on the other end. The caller identified herself as a 911 operator from Peach County and that my mother had asked her to call and would I please call her at home, it's about your father. Now I must tell you that my father and mother are both 80 years old. We have spent countless hours in hospital rooms as well as emergency rooms so that initial distress you feel when you get news like this was not there for me. As I am dialing that number that I have dialed a million times before, I was thinking OK here we go again, another trip to the ER, maybe a stay at the hospital. I would never have guessed how wrong I was. My mother answers and in her stuttering voice says " GiGi, I can't wake up Poppa." I asked her if the ambulance was there and where she thought they would be taking him. Her answer to me was "I think he is DEAD." I screamed at her "DON'T SAY THAT" I am on the way. I will call you when I get in the car. By this time, Mouse has gotten up and asks what the trouble is this time. I shared that I really don't know but would call when I got there. You know, I wanted so badly to be able to pray on that drive and I just could not. All I could manage to say was "Help Me". As I pulled down their street, I saw 2 police cars in front of the house and the ambulance in the back. It was running with the door open, I knew it was waiting on the paramedics to bring Poppa out for the trip to whatever hospital could best serve his needs. My mother met me at the door and said to me "He's gone." All I could make come out was a quite "No". I quickly asked where he was, I had to find my Poppa. They pointed me to the bedroom. As I walked in, I saw him lying on his side sleeping like a baby. I wanted so much to shake him and yell "Wake up, We need you, Please don't go" but I chose to yell at the paramedic instead "WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!", and of course he had no answer for me. As I walked back into the kitchen, my heart was breaking. I went up to my mother and hugged her. I had no words to say. I felt like I should say something but I didn't know what. I looked around and I felt so sorry for those paramedics and police officers who were standing there helpless. They were witnessing a family, my family, at it's lowest point. 2 seemingly helpless women who have been given the news that will change their life forever. What a horrible place to be. To be continued...

GiGi becomes a Blogger

Well, here I go. I have been enjoying reading several blogs lately and decided that I might like to try my hand at it. I am certainly never at a loss for words or stories for that matter. My 3W's keep us filled to the brim. I thought this might also be a good outlet for me to vent some of my ongoing issues with out new business venture and ever present exciting family stories. I am really technically challenged so I hope that I will be able to keep up with some of the most impressive blogs I have read lately. Maybe even add a picure or two. Talk to you all soon.

Later,

GiGi