Y'all know by now that I do not consider myself a religious person, and then I always add that I am a spiritual person. And I also inserted a little southern slang right there, did it hit you? My cousin, who was born on Staten Island, like me, and just a few years back moved down south... has begun the southern speak. Not that there's anything wrong with that!... but it takes some adjusting for those of us from New Yawk who still pahk the cah by the watuh.
Actually I stopped pahking the cah by the watuh a long time ago, because I got tired of sounding like a thug.
But I'm getting away from the story.... So, I consider myself a spiritual person and what does that mean exactly? For me it means I believe in doing right by others, being kind, having compassion, knowing that I don't know exactly why and how we are all here today as we are. The science makes sense to me, and yet there is the essence of what make people PEOPLE, and I can't deny that the mystery intrigues me and the idea that there is something left of us after our bodies have failed makes some sense to me too. Heaven? I don't know... would be awesome, though, wouldn't it.
Every now and then a little something happens that makes me think. Last week there was a sad passing of an old friend of ours. I spoke of Louie HERE. Louie was 79 years young, had just come in from picking watermelons and having loaded them into his truck... walked over to the side of his garden, sat down probably not feeling well.... and passed away. Just like that. He seemed fit and healthy enough to have lasted another 10-15 years at least, so it took us all by surprise.
Mike and I went to visit with his wife and children the night after his passing, before all the proceedings. We talked of his love for his garden, his tenacity and temper, shared tears with his wife, son and daughter who loved him dearly. We walked out into his beloved garden, still lush with tomatoes heavy on the vine. Louie would have been out there picking them if he were still among us. Sad to see all the hard work he had just put into it, and the thought that he wouldn't be around to harvest the fruits of his labor, not this time.
When it came time to leave, Mike and I hopped in the truck and started to pull away from Louies house and garden. I got a text from my daughter telling me of Robin Williams death. I responded with an OMG - but when I looked down at my phone again it said MING instead.
Stupid auto correct text typo, right?
Except that was Louies famous word, so frequent that it became a joke among us over the years when referring to him or his antics. I'm not sure what it means in Italian.. maybe something really obnoxious. But for Louie it was the word he used when he was aggravated, frustrated or surprised.. it was his OMG.
(after posting this I looked it up. What Louie was saying is actually spelled a little differently if you're being grammatically correct- Mingya - is Italian slang. It is used for just about anything, but the literal meaning referrs to men's genetalia. Substitute for "Holy Shit!" "Damn!" "Come on!" ) To you and I, hearing Louie say it, it would sound just like MING.
Message from the beyond on an Iphone from Louie? I don't know... has anyone heard from Steve Jobs lately?.... but I do know he would have been just as surprised as we were to find himself - passed-. I'm thinking that's exactly what he would say.
oh, how sweet. i think you need to tell his family about that. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a very spiritual person who believes in heaven, the afterlife and ghosts, I'd say it was the most revealing message you could have received. Quite perfect, actually.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your friend is gone; and I know you'll all miss him. I feel exactly as MsA stated, word for word.
ReplyDeleteAfter my brother passed, a while later he said to me "I'm not really dead, Sally." I found comfort in his words.
xoxo
So sorry about your friend. It's hard no matter the circumstances, let alone when it's a total surprise.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crazy story! My only brush with something like this that REALLY made me question things happened about two years ago. At the time I was driving my turbo charged Saab. I was leaving the grocery store. Had the top down, so had full visibility. Looked behind me, clicked into reverse, and looked again. All clear. The three or four spaces around me were empty. My very fast car, that moved as long as it was in gear wouldn't budge. I tapped my foot on the gas, and it still would not move. As I was putting it into park to figure out what was happening, a little girl came running behind the car. This all happened in about three seconds. Still gives me chills. I remember her mother was beside herself because when the girl took off (mad at her), my lights were lit white in reverse
Makes you wonder
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, he looks 79 years young in that picture... so very sorry for your loss!
ReplyDeleteI've had a few experiences like that and I totally believe that was from Louie. No doubt in my mind.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great picture of Louie, he looks happy and content and not at all 79.
I'm sorry, too, about your friend...I would like to believe...I certainly have no answers but remaining open to possibilities when it happens. Just put Duke down and would like to think that he is with Dommie somewhere waiting for me... xo
ReplyDeleteWow, if it's your time to go, that's the way to do it, but when it's sudden like that it's hard for those left behind to comprehend it. I know there is an afterlife, and I think it was him, maybe his way of thanking you for visiting his family.
ReplyDeleteYou just never know. Strange things can happen...and when it does, it's time to slow down and think about it. Which you did when you wrote this! Well done my friend! I'm so sorry about the loss of someone this special. Sweet hugs, Diane
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