The next decade....what's in store?

Transitioning this life

Some one close to our family passed away a few days ago. He was 91 or 92, so lived a long life. His wife transitioned before him, in 1992.

If you remember reading this blog in February 2004 and March 2005 and seeing that I went to Mandeville, he would be my evening company at dinner if the other members of the household were out. I'm a very patient person, so even when, in the later years, he would repeat stories, I would still listen.

And ask many questions I would too. I am fascinated by changes in societies and lifestyles over time, so on my prompting, he told me how it was when he was a young man, having just finished teacher's college, all the various places in Jamaica that he was transferred to, how he met his wife, how he wooed her, about catching the train downtown after she visited (or maybe he was the one who would come to Kingston). Just fascinating. You could tell that they had real love for each other.

He was a stalwarth of the ruling party, so there were stories about early political life as well. Very enriching and I enjoyed the talks we had immensely.

After I would come back from Alpart, he would ask how the day went. We would share the newspaper, I would encourage him to walk, even if it was to the gate and back, so he could get some exercise.

I am glad that I got to spend those two cricket seasons in Mandeville. His transition was brief and peaceful. I suspected it would have come soon, when I heard, while I was in Jamaica, that he was not eating. That's always a sign.

This brings the question about transitioning.

If you had a choice, how would you like to transition? I know that if my parents showed signs of slipping away, I would be at their bedside morning noon and night, no matter where in the world I was. It actually terrifies me to be away from Jamaica, for that reason alone. That's why I go back so often, so that if there was a sudden transitioning, at least it would not have been more than four or so months since I last saw the family.

I would be holding their hand, letting them know that I was with them in spirit, even if they couldn't feel me physically. I felt badly that no family member was with both my grandmothers when they passed. If I can help it, I won't let that happen. The finality of the physical transition just dictates that you're there to say your last goodbye.

Posted by yamfoot at July 31, 2006 10:24 PM