It's been 5 years since Patrick left us (far too soon, blah, blah, blah. Of course it was too soon.)
And it's easier. It's not a searing pain anymore. But it certainly never goes away, not really. I think of him everyday. Talk with him several times a week. And keep telling him it would just be a lot easier if he'd help us hit the lottery. Because, c'mon, it totally would be!
But as the old saying goes, time heals all wounds. I don't wish ill upon Jason. Quite the opposite really. Doesn't change the fact that I really want Patty back though.
Gumby and Patty were so alike (hence why they tried to kill each other on such a regular basis. I'm sure it's hard to see your best and worst qualities mirrored back at you so blatantly). And because they were so alike, Little Man is a clone of them all. And he has Patrick's evil laugh and eyebrows. And he's a frickin' video game freak at 8. And Patrick is so damn proud of that little boy and the way he drives me batty.
And I can hear him sighing at Baby Girl as she is no longer such a baby; quite a little lady and generally driving all of us insane with her desire to be "grown up". Which, isn't so bad actually as other kids I see. Just bad because she's all we have to go by right now :)
My in-laws have their good and their bad days, both emotionally and health wise. Gumby has resolved some of his anger, but it's still there.
I hope Pat's friends all know it's ok to miss him, but we have to let Jason live his life. He has his crosses to bear. I can't even imagine....I don't want to. I would never wish this on anyone.
Alas, if you wish to revisit (because sometimes I do)
Patrick Joseph Reed aka FURP
