“Are you ready dad?” Johnathon asked almost yelling. After all, his dad was 85 and the hearing is the first to go.
“Oh no, nothing to eat right now John.” He replied in a frail and shaky voice.
“No dad, not hungry, ready. Are you ready?” Johnathon yelled in a slightly louder tone.
“Oh…yeah, I think so. Just give me a few minutes if that’s alright.” He looked up at his son with a smile on his face.
“Sure dad. That’s fine.” He shouted back and stepped out of the room. Just as he was about to shut the door however he opened it again. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Oh yes son, oh yes.” He nodded
“Alright dad.” And he left the room but left the door partially open.
Gerald pushed himself slowly up from the old wood chair he was sitting in and walked over to where a mirror hung. He looked into the mirror admiring himself for a moment and adjusted his tie. “Something blue” he said quietly to himself. He then moved his hands to his suit lapels, straightened them flat with his hands, but stopped at a pin on the left side. “And something borrowed. Good.” He said again. Satisfied that all was in place he went back over to his chair. He faltered slightly and grabbed the chair which skid an inch across the floor. Johnathon was in the room in an instant.
“You alright dad?”
“Yes, yes. I’m fine.” And looked up at his son smiling again. “I wish I could have worn my tuxedo though.” His eyes glittered with a stillness only memories have.
“I know dad, but you don’t even have it anymore.” There was annoyance in his voice now.
“Is it time to go?”
“Whenever you’re ready dad. That’s when it’s time.”
“Oh……………………okay then.”
Gerald’s mind wasn’t what it once was. He hasn’t begun forgetting the old, iron clad memories. But now he often confuses the new with the old. He often intertwines the new into the old, or simply doesn’t remember the new at all.
Gerald and Johnathon were halfway down the hallway of the old church when Gerald stopped.
“What’s wrong dad?”
Gerald looked up at his son hopefully.
“She’s out there isn’t she?”
Johnathon looked at his father with an amount of sympathy.
“Of course she is dad. How couldn’t she be?”
Gerald smiled. “Yes. I suppose so.”
They finished walking down the length of the hall together. When they reached the end Johnathon opened the door and waited for his dad. Gerald stood there for a moment, straightening his tie with his shaking hands, touched his lapel pin, and took a deep breath.
As Gerald entered the main area of the church the Pipe Organ filled his ears. He looked out into the rows of pews. Sitting there was everyone he knew, all who meant something to him and it made him happy and more comfortable.
He made his way slowly up the two steps to the alter. There his wife waited for him wearing the dress he always said he liked on her best. He looked at her and smiled then reached down and took hold of her hand. It was cold, but then his own were clammy, and just like that it all came back to him, just like it was yesterday rather than 68 years ago.
With his hand still holding hers he looked up at the priest standing silently behind the alter.
“I, Gerald Sarchowski, promise to cherish, hold and love you from this day to the next and until there are no more. I promise to treasure and respect you to…” as Gerald continued on not a sound came from the congregation. Nobody moved, not even the wood of the pews creaked. “…and to hold your hand and love you until the day we die.”
When Gerald finished his vows he stood there in the silence staring with love at his wife. A minute passed, then two. Finally the silence was broken as Johnathon stood up. He walked up behind his dad and laid his hand on his shoulder.
Gerald turned to look at his son, still with a big smile on his face.
“Come on dad. Let’s sit down.”
A look of confusion settled on Gerald’s face.
“It’s time to start dad. Come on.”
Gerald turned and took a step down, then another, then stopped and turned back to look at his wife.
“Come on dad. Let’s sit.” And they did.
Once again silence followed but with a sniffle from here and a small sob from there. Finally the priest spoke.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Mary Warchowski…”
As the priest continued Johnathon looked at his father sitting quietly beside him.
“Dad.” He whispered. He nudged him lightly. “Dad, you okay?”
His dad looked over at him “I haven’t seen Ray for years. Is he here?” Gerald said looking around.
“No dad. I’m sorry.”
end.
I took 3 days off for a weeks vacation
Trying to overcome some kinda deprivation
Can someone tell me what it is I’m doing wrong?
Cause 4 times now I’ve written this wrong
Trying to write you the perfect true-love song
But I don’t think I’m ever gonna get it right
Oh tell me how is it now?
How is it now?
Is it coming out right?
Coming out right?
I can no longer remember how many times
I’ve used these same and exact rhymes
But they’ve never meant quite what they do right now
Cause I’ve tried to tell you in so many ways
All those different times and different days
What my feeling are towards you
But every time a different complication
Every time some sort of diversion
And I never did get out what I want to say
So tell me how am I now?
How am I now?
Am I doing all right?
Doing all right?
Cause my entire life is based off you
I can’t be anything you don’t tell me to
I’ve tried and I’ve tried but I simply can’t
Oh when you’re away I’m sniffing glue
Trying to feel like when I am with you
But nothing else seems to get me high
Now I think this song’s gone in the wrong direction
Instead of telling you of my heart’s reflection
I’m going on all about these other things
So how are you now?
How are you now?
Are you changing your mind?
Changing your mind?
Cause I’ve said everything I know to say
And if there’s something else I don’t know the way
So wont you say that you’re coming home?
Yes I’ve said everything that can be said
Not sure if I begged, but know I’ve plead
And I’m just fine with that if you’re coming home
Yes I’m just fine with that if you’re coming home