Merry Exile-mas

This year we opened our presents on Christmas Eve, everything went well, everyone was here. Mom, Dad, Joe, My Cousin (and husband), and my Grandma. My grandpa didn’t attend though, due to a case of the flu he decided to stay home.

The presents all went well, and yes, the flying pig hat was a huge success.

Unfortunately the evening did not end well at all

December 24, 2005, my Grandpa, Raymond Chang died.

We found the body around 10:30, it looks like the flu had taken the last of his strength and he collapsed on the floor. My family and I sprung into action as soon as we heard (I don’t think I drove slower than 90 on the way over to my grandmother’s house.) The sheriff proceeded with the barrage of questions that always surround death. Around midnight the Neptune Society arrived to away the body. My Mom and I elected to clean up the bathroom and bedroom where he had an “accident” before he passed. The family entrusted me to handle the phone calls with the Neptune Society and wait for them to arrive because I don’t sleep. I was there at 2:00am when they came to take his body, I signed the paperwork while everyone else either went home or stayed to consol my Grandma.

There was one moment that broke my heart; it was grandma’s goodbye.

It’s always tough when someone you love dies, it’s even harder when it happens on a holiday. To be honest I’ve been in shock the entire time, it didn’t even dawn on me that he was really gone when I went in to cover the body.

“Oh hon-ito,” she said choking on tears. “You were such a good man, you were so kind, and sweet.” She began to cry and I steadied her. “Oh god, what am I going to do with out you,” she cried. “You weren’t that sick, you weren’t.” she attempted to tuck the blanket around him and began pulling at his shirt. “Was it your heart honey, did you heart give out on you.” She pulled the collar of his shirt exposing the scar that ran across his chest like a zipper. She began to shake as I helped her to her feet. “You’re so cold hon-ito,” she said turning to me. “I tried to warm him up, but his cheeks were so cold…” (When she found him earlier she thought he had just fallen out of the bed.)



It’s 4:30 on Christmas morning and I’m writing this, I can’t sleep, but I have to, tomorrow I have to go though Ray’s computer to look for anything we need to settle his affairs.


My mom said earlier, “You know, life always happens at like 3 am, babies, deaths, it’s always at like 3 am.”




Exile

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