Sitting on my parents bed, I look up to the empty hook screwed into the ceiling right above my dad’s pillow. Earlier this year he decided, after moving the bed around to yet another part of the room because – “it’s good energy to have your head facing this way” – he had quite hastily installed a massive solid glass pyramid into this hook because apparently this was also really “great for energy flow and life” We figured that a solid chunk of pointy edged glass was probably also “great for falling down and smashing onto someone’s sleeping head” So now it sits, far more securely, on his bedside table.
I see more and more clearly that his every (often ridiculously misguided) action and intention came from a place of creating happiness, good energy and joy. Our dad loves love.
This packed house is silent this morning. I think we are all afraid to whisper because we don’t want the finality of it all to be real. Perhaps if we all hide under the sheets and don’t get out of bed today we will never have to say goodbye and he will magically come back.
But instead of goodbye we know somewhere in our broken hearts that this is simply ‘farewell, until I see you again.’ Besides, my dad would never miss such an amazing party.
You are right Tracy – he would never miss such a party, HIS party. He will be sitting on close by on a cloud with his always great friendly smile in his eyes watching over all his beautiful family and friends and very much enjoying it all.
Wishing you all an amazing day! Love you all and sending lots of positive loving energies!!!! xXxXxXxXx
Special thoughts, special love. Right there beside you all walking very closely and every step of the way with you, in front, beside and behind to help lead you through. No other words, an aching heart..love Wend xx
So sad I could not be with you to raise an Old Speckled Hen to my pal. Having a glass or two now and reflecting on my time with Jim and how we gelled from the first moments we met at the dinner table on May 6th 2010 on the Jewel of the Seas. Even Kareen and my lovely late wife Sandra wore similar colour combos, and did for the first three or four nights!
Jim and I shared an engineering passion and spent time in the workshop interspersed with wine, coffee and Old Speckled Hen making the aircraft propellor cooling fan for the garage area ( hope it’s still in operation tonight!), sorting the garden irrigation system, checking out how to make wheels for the 12 pounder field gun, researching the origins of the fish tank in the garden (before it went into its present location).
I loved my time with Jim and Kareen, they lifted me when I was at a low low. We all cried at the airport when I had to come home. I felt I had another family to go back to.
Jim, you old so and so, most people would go a long way to find a pal as good as you. You knew how to make people love you for the fun filled, wine “expert”, silly ideas, even sillier dancing, cannon firing bugger you were. Au revoir, till we meet again. Give Sandra a big hug from me and tell her that, like you, she’ll never be forgotten.
What a beautiful service and sharing of someone who touched so many people..those who will never forget the ‘Jim Craig’ as someone said in one of the beautiful tributes…’happy sailing my friend’…you are gone but would never be forgotten…
We we’re thinking about you all yesterday, and send our love and hugs to all of you. Do hope all the arrangements went well, and the celebration was to Jim’s standard! Bright shirts and loud music… Also hope that you can find comfort in knowing that Jim would have so hated being confined in any way, but his vibrant personality will stay with so many of us for ever.
With love
Cyndy and Chris
Tracy
Jim Cross sent me your blog. Your Dad and I repaired a written off car in about 1966. We came back to Australia in 1968, so my little news of your family since has been through Jim & Mona, (Veronica).
Your prose on this blog has been truly poetic. Wonderful account of your recent tragic journey, I have no doubt your Dad would have been proud of the manner in which yoiu have unfolded his final chapter. Brilliant. Thank you.