Charles Lyon Gerlach
April 30, 1923 - July 23, 2008
Son: Watcha doing Daddy?
Dad: Milkin' a fish.
Dear Pop,
I miss you so very, very much. I know you are in a better place, and you no longer hurt, but for the most part, it doesn't help. My heart aches every time I pick up the phone to call you and tell you what one of your grandkids did, or email you pictures of them. I have to stop myself, and when I realize you are no longer here physically, it is as if my heart has imploded and taken away my every breath.
I tell myself you are with God now. I need to believe that even though I'm not sure if you did or not. I want to ask you to look for Grandma Minnie, my maternal grandmother. You can't miss her. She'll be the one doing the dishes or working on a quilt for a new baby that will be entering Heaven soon. She will most likely have a Pekinese-Poodle by her side named Samson. If you are around when it's time for Samson to go for a walk, she will ask you to put the leash on. You see, she never liked to touch him, but she would walk him every day without fail.
You might also want to keep a lookout for Uncle Bob. He'll be the engineer on the trains that travel throughout Heaven. I do need to warn you though, if you invite him over he will most likely want to sleep in your bed with his shoes on. I'm sure he will be glad to give you a tour so that you know where everything is.
There are so many people I want to tell you to say hi to. I would imagine that they are all waiting to welcome you. After all, you meant the world to me, so that automatically brings out the welcome mat.
You have fun in Heaven. Don't ever forget us. Don't ever forget me. I love you Chuck. I am so glad that God gave you to me. You will always be in my heart.
Love,
Laura
Comments
I'm so so sorry for your loss. Peace and love to you, lady.
Posted by: sweetney at August 6, 2008 7:06 PM
I'm so, so sorry for your loss. Big hugs from me.
Posted by: Omnibus Driver at August 7, 2008 12:23 PM
Beautiful, poetic and haunting post and I only cried a little when I read it, silent echoes of the past coming back.
My papa, he'll be up there too a fixing everyone's leaking taps and such like he'll be with him mum and dad again, never did meet either of my grandpa's that hurts just a bit, keep him in your heart and he'll live forever..
Hugs to you all
Ya know how to get me..
Posted by: Gordon at August 7, 2008 4:45 PM
My condolences on your family's loss, Laura. I'm sending hugs too.
Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 8:16 PM
I'm sorry for your loss. That's a nice letter you've written.
Posted by: Tey at August 8, 2008 1:13 AM
Somewhere, somehow, he's reading these beautifully considered words and smiling.
I wish I had words that could ease your pain somewhat, but it's times like this that I realize how limited my words can be.
I'll say a little prayer for him before tuck-in tonight. And for your family, that you'll know no further pain or loss.
Posted by: Carmi at August 8, 2008 5:23 PM
My thoughts are with you all :(
Posted by: Ian at August 9, 2008 2:57 PM
That was beautiful, and your pop feels every bit of it, I have no doubt.
It gets a little easier, I swear. It'll always hurt, but it gets easier. We're coming up on the 2 year anniversary of my FIL's death, and sometimes the grief slaps at me out of nowhere...I *know* he's in a better place and he's with the people who loved him before I did, but that doesn't change what I lost.
Knowing that won't change what you lost, either. A hole in your heart is a hole in your heart...nothing ever fills it. Maybe that's a good thing.
Posted by: Thumper at August 10, 2008 5:09 PM
