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Monday, September 13, 2010

Hello from Heaven


Whenever mother would joke about leaving us behind she mentioned about a not too long wake and that we should not be lonely when she will be gone. That same day she let go, we immediately prepared for her one night wake. Right after her heart stopped my youngest brother, sis in law and I went to the memorial park to prepare the place for her interment. Interment was set Friday, 10th of September at three in the afternoon.

Thursday morning my two brothers hastily worked the immediate release of her death certificate. Likewise the permit needed to transfer the body from one city to another city. A job supposed to be done by the funeral home but we want to please mother of what she had wished for. We had to do it ourselves. Friday, 10th of Sept. was the end of Ramadan and it was declared Philippine Holiday in due respect for the Muslim Filipinos. Being a Holiday, all private and public offices will be closed. Meaning all documents needed must be processed and prepared Thursday, the 9th of Sept.

Not being lonely is of course beyond our control. We do not know what exactly happened but we were in a happy mood right on Thursday morning at the funeral home. It all started when my sister mentioned about swarm of small black ants that gathered at the house of our older brother. I kidded when it will be my time. I would like fireflies, so no need to worry about having an outage. My sister kidded back they will not see the fireflies in the morning. Then again I said I need two. Fireflies at nighttime and butterflies at daytime. We cackled at the thought of it, some friends arrived Thursdays evening and more laughter. Luckily, there was no other wake on the other chapels. Otherwise some people might think we had gone crazy.

Wednesday, we decided to leave three hours early for the interment to avoid traffic jam. There was drizzle on our way. I was looking for a rainbow but there was none. We arrived at the memorial park an hour early. We still had time to have a short program. My older brother spoke about my mother. He made it too lengthy to wait for one last guest. The guest arrived and I observed my brother was having his speech too long. I decided to say something, followed by my sister, my youngest brother and two sisters in laws. My youngest brother did not finish what he was about to say. He was overcome with emotion. I reminded my older brother it was past three in the afternoon already. He knew what I meant.

We gathered around the grave as the casket was lowered. The grave is a lawn lot. Mother will be on top of my father. We threw flowers as a gesture of saying goodbye to mother. I was warning my eleven year old niece not to come close to the hole as she was throwing roses. I noticed my youngest brother took out a hanky from his pocket. All of the sudden a loud clank was heard! I shouted – “Oh, mother wanted my cell phone so she could call us from heaven!” Everyone cackled in laughter. My niece who was crying stopped and her face lit up with a wide grin. My youngest brother laughed so hard. Laughers reverberates the place as the guest laughed in unison.

My Nokia E71 cell phone slid off of the case being half opened. Fell to the plastic mat then to the hole of the grave. I had the case tied with the cord of my USB disc and slung it on my neck. A man who was among the men lowering the casket with a cord picked up my cell phone half covered with water soluble white paint. The cell phone suffered few scratches but working properly. After few exchanges of stories and partaking boxes of pizza and Zesto packed drinks. We thanked the guests, composed of some relatives and friends. I, my siblings and in laws with the kids had a sumptuous dinner at one of a fine dining restaurant courtesy of my youngest brother. No more crying. Everyone agreed we do not want to lose my cell phone if we do.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

i'm extremely sorry to hear this..
may her soul rest in peace..
be strong jolly!!

Jolly Princess said...

@Ravali- Thanks Ravs. I am happy to read your comment. Do not worry I had accepted it already she will not be with us forever. I know my father and mother are dancing tango in heaven now. Tango is the favorite dance of my father. :)

Carole Barkett said...

was a tough post to read as I lost my parents quite young too but my love and prayers are with you and your family.

Jolly Princess said...

@Country Mouse Studio - Thank you my friend. I felt so BLESSED! The whole wide world is praying to me and my family. I posted these articles about my mother to let everyone knew why there was lull in my blogging activities. Some of my friends were worried about my long absence.

JANZ said...

Hi Ate JP...
I'm glad to hear that you are doing okay. I know losing someone is VERY PAINFUL. Oh, I'm sorry about what I told you that you made me cry about your previous post. You didn't have to apologize to me either. I just remembered last year. Anyway, I'm glad your phone is working just fine after what had happened. I guess your Mother wanted everybody not to be sad but smiling. I remember my father told each one of us a few years before he died that if he were to go not to cry for him or else he will get up from his casket. So, I really didn't cry during his funeral. I did most of my crying at the hospital where he died. But, one time, a few days after he died, I was already in bed and crying. I don't turn the light off when I sleep. So, as I was crying, my light flickered on and off twice. So, after that I stopped crying. LOL. Anyway, I know your Mother is happy and at a better place now with the almighty creator. Take care Ate...

Jill Wellington said...

Yes, the whole wide world is praying for YOU! Thanks for sharing this. It had to be difficult to write, yet it was also joyful...the phone call from heaven! I loved reading that, Jolly!

I love how you lightened the mood at a normally somber time. You are an awesome person!

Ryan said...

Tonight there will a Tango in heaven, you are a very brave women JP. My thoughts are with you.

Jolly Princess said...

@Janz- My father communicated with me countless times when he passed away in 1999. A big housefly green or orange in color would suddenly enter my room, or would alight on my shoulder while I was inside a shopping mall. It would never leave until I talk to it I am alright. There were several occasions father communicated with my younger brother too but more to me. I thought I had gone crazy for a while. I spoke with several people and they advice me truly our loved ones communicate with us. It even led me to read a book titled Hello from Heaven. So, yes I believed you. : ♥)

Jolly Princess said...

@Jill- Thanks, Jill. I would not be this strong without your prayers. Thank you my dear friend for your continued support. @Ryan- Hahaha! Tango is the favorite dance of my late father. Believed it or not. My sister told us while she was praying for my mother. She smelled cigarette smoke. My father was a heavy smoker in his younger years. We concluded it was him who fetched mother on that day mother let go and her heart stopped beating.

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