Friday, November 18, 2005

strictly ancedotal

My parents tell me these stories about a small child that they knew years ago. She was a delightful obnoxious little thing. I cannot believe that we are actually the continuum of one person. Just like I look at pictures of myself up to the age of 5 and am amazed that this photogenic little thing and I are an almost exact genetic match (taking into account occasional accumulated uncorrected DNA damage).

Today over super spicy chinese food my mother told me the following.

My paternal grandmother died when I was seven. She had come from Korea to visit us three years before and I had been her translator at the corner store and whenever we watched television. She, in turn, kept me from trying to wear my pants as some kind of bizarre corduroy turtleneck. On more than one occasion.

My father was making travel arrangements to fly to Korea for the funeral. And I could not understand why. I kept asking my mother why Daddy had to fly to Korea. Why couldn't Grandma come and see us? She would explain that Grandma had died. She couldn't come to see us. Daddy had to go see her. We were never going to see her again. I took this in and 20 minutes later I asked the same questions again. I wanted a different answer. I was a stubborn little thing.

My mother bought me "Charlotte's Web" and read it with me. I cried and cried. I got it. When she asked me about the end of the story I told her that the baby spiders were spinning webs but Charlotte was not because she was dead. My mother went on to explain that that's what happened to grandma. She was dead. She was could not come and visit. That's what happens in life. You are born, you grow up, you live and then you die. My father told me to think about all of Charlotte's children, the little spiders that were going to live happy lives and carry the memory of their mother.

I remember reading Charlotte's Web, crying my eyes out, talking about death with my parents, and coming to an understanding of Grandma's death. I did not know that my mother had turned to E.B. White for help in teaching me this life lesson.

5 comments:

MomVee said...

What wonderful parents you have. Fiction can be such a help in understanding life.

The part with the little spiders always dissolves me. And I decided a few years ago that my goal in life was to have Charlotte's epitaph: It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

I'm going to try that new way of wearing courduroy pants. :)

Jay said...

Well it's cool that you've learned it now, because that will be one treasure from your parents you can really hold on to.

Kat E said...

Thanks for sharing that story. I actually caught myself thinking, "Wow, Charlotte's Web, that's a great idea. I'll remember that for my kids." Then again, we have so many pets that they'll most likely end up learning from direct experience...

Lever said...

Well that's another tome going on my booklist... I may have to buy another home to house my books now :)

BeckyBumbleFuck said...

It is good to write down stories like that...and to pass the wisdom. Your Mom is such a clever, dear lady.