Tag Archive for loss

The Pipers Son by Melina Marchetta

02/09/2011 Joh love, reading

I finish this with a tear tracked face. I am glad I’m not wearing makeup on my days off or I would look pretty messy now.

‘The Piper’s Son’ is an immensely clever and touching tale about a young man rebuilding a life after grief drives him to oblivion. It’s not just him, it’s his whole family who experience loss. The story reveals the triumph of love and I loved it for it.

I texted my son because I remembered he had told me to read ‘Saving Francesca’ which has the same characters. He’d already been on to it. ‘finished it 3 weeks ago’ was the reply I got to my recommendation. Good to know he doesn’t wait around for me to recommend books to him any more:).

Melina Marchetta creates endearing characters. I just went through his boxes of books to find ‘Saving Francesca’ because starting a new book with those people I have grown to love will make the sadness of finishing ‘The Piper’s Son’ more bearable.

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Love Hurts

13/08/2010 Joh family, friends, love, relationships

I have spent the evening with one of my close friends who lost her brother this week. A student from one of our schools (Marist) died this week. There were many students this week feeling it. Another close friend lost a brother in law. I don’t personally know any of these people but I have met some of them. Their loss doesn’t hurt me except through seeing my friends suffer.

When we lose someone we love, it is an incredible opportunity for the survivors to share how they feel about that person and about each other. That is what I have witnessed. I have never forgotten when my grandfather died some August’s ago the love that I felt from my year 9 class and my friends. I really appreciated their support and kindness. Those students are now my year 12′s. I remember their goodness.

I had a year 10 student today asking my advise about what kind of message he should leave on his friend’s facebook page. Our students are not meant to access facebook in class, but sometimes there are more important things than the school rules. In a very respectful tone, I asked him who he thought would read that message on facebook and how they would feel about what he wrote. He was no longer communicating to her, it was her loved ones that he needed to consider, when he left his final note. That is the most important literacy to me. The literacy of the heart in the times of the greatest vulnerability.

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Today

13/05/2008 Joh friends

I went to a funeral today. It was a beautiful celebration of the life of a much loved woman. I was touched by the women who spoke about their friend. She was a young woman of 41. A mother of three beautiful daughters. She was known and loved. I’m reminded how beautiful and fleeting life is. I saw tangible love in the people gathered to pay tribute.

I picked up my new to me, yet used car. I have been so busy lately I hadn’t even got excited about it. Today I did. I am sure I will enjoy it from this point on. I have returned to a small car. I know it will be more economical, easy and it looks good too.

I’ve just had a massage. Perfect timing. I feel relaxed, unburdened of all the tension and ready for a good nights sleep. I hope to return to school tomorrow refreshed and back to normal. I feel I have been neglecting my work with all the activity in my personal life lately.

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ANZAC Day and Pa

25/04/2008 Joh family

Pa in the ArmyAt school yesterday we had an ANZAC service. The students are always very reverent and respectful of this ritual in the calender. It is a powerful experience to be in a gym with over 600 teenagers and teachers and experience total silence and stillness. To be able to hear the slightest creak in the building and the birds outside.

This is the first ANZAC day since Pa died last year and I miss him. I usually go to the dawn service. He hasn’t marched for a couple of years due to being unwell, but I would spend time with him on this day. He would tell me stories about that time and stories from other men he had heard. He spent some time at one stage of his life at the RSL. I remember when he was in his 70s he would talk about helping out the old blokes, yet some of them were younger than him! It was quite ironic. I intended to write about some of the stories about him that I remember but I can’t today. Maybe next year.

In this photo, he is in the back row, forth from the right.

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Near Completion

31/01/2008 Joh gratitude, relationships

On Saturday the removalists will come and take all Andy’s stuff to his new home in Tasmania. He has spent this week dismantling and packing it all up. It’s been challenging for me to be honest having everything around reminding me. I have missed him.

I am lucky I am back at school because letting go of someone you still adore is hard work. I suck at not showing how I feel. I have been pretty good this week though- thanks to the distraction of a job I love. He is kind and considerate, as he has always been. It has been a harmonious separation. I want to be friends. Time will tell if that is possible. I really feel quite miserable now.

He doesn’t read my blog. He never has. I would feel bad about this except that his ex was a published author and he’s never read any of her books, so I kind of figured my blog didn’t have much hope. It’s freeing in some way, but I still haven’t chosen to write much about him and our life together. It was good for me, though, in case you’re wondering. I really appreciate him and our time together. I have loved having him here again. It’s bittersweet though. I haven’t been very social for a while. I just want to get through this and I’m sure I’ll re-emerge some time soon.

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Heartbroken

01/09/2006 Joh family, relationships

Ella passed away this week. The emptiness is vast. I hurt for Andy’s massive loss also. He has loved her and had her as a constant companion for 11 years. I have never been privelaged to see such a close bond. She was a blessed part of our lives and her beauty and grace will continue to be missed for a long time.

Because I can.
Comment, because YOU can.

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