The Jovial One

So here I am, listening to #Adele’s Hello... 

a random thought a minute later 

and a flash of you in my mind’s eye, has led me here... 

Although I resisted the urge to write your name on this virtual wall and 

although I have written on physical sheets, 

words to honour your memory - here I am ‘talking’ to you...

“Hey Rachael,

Hi uncle, how are you?

I’m alright, hanging in there... 

Love you...”

You were the one whose smile I heard and joy I felt whenever you were 

on the phone or whenever we had a family get-together 

- often at Christmas time by aunty Lydia (miss you dearly)... 

You loved being around family, seeing your neices and nephews or 

cooking up a storm - I’ll surely miss your pepper shrimp! 

Our last real meet up was following aunty’s send off... 

who knew you’d soon leave to join her...

I saw the tears you shed for her then and I feel those tears now - 

the absence of your presence. [Lord I pray for the strength... tomorrow...] 

I’m unprepared for this... I need more time...

But time was taken... from us... from you...

I’ll miss those laughs and hugs, uncle

Those smiling eyes, though with a hint of sadness at times

I’ll miss seeing your face light up when we sang praises of your food -

always happy to give us a second helping! 

Who’d have thought I’d be saying goodbye to you - so soon...

I’ll miss hearing your voice and talking to you.

We always wish we knew in advance, when the sands of time will run out...

Maybe I’d come visit you and check for you frequently and 

ask you tons of questions about back when and so on... 

Maybe I’d talk to you about life and listen to you 

or tell you what it means to me

Maybe then, the time would be sufficent and enough to say, 

“Goodbye, till we meet again...”

Maybe this time was... 

Either way, know this - I love you lots and I will miss you.

I will miss you at Christmas time, as I miss you now...

I pray your soul is soaring free... [Hug aunty for me]

I pray you’re with her and your smile is bright...

Tomorrow has come... I’m still not ready to say, Goodbye...

Uncle Lemuel, Love you <3>