It’s “Sun”-day and Q’s birthday, but there isn’t much room for celebrating this morning, because today is also the day that we say goodbye to my mother. Q does manage to treat himself to a new birthday hairstyle, though. It’s the first time I’ve seen him without locks.
Everyone gathers in the kitchen dressed for the memorial…except Merit, who’s still in pajamas. Q lights up the birthday cake that he baked for himself and blows out the candle.
Q is now an elder. We all grab a slice of cake and sit down to eat. It’s not an ideal breakfast, but we’re a bit pressed for time.
(Note: this is the first time I had a sim age up to an elder with their parents still alive. It’s because I made the elder lifetime a bit longer. It happens at times in real life, so why shouldn’t some sim parents get a chance to see their child age up to an elder??)
The nearest cemetery is in Willow Creek, which is quite a distance away. We meet other members of our family; Q’s parents, Michelle and Veronica there at noon.
Everyone takes a seat in a designated area in the cemetery. I step up to the mike and go over a few words that I jotted down for this very moment. I clear my throat to begin but realize that this is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
Alida: *speaking into the mic* I had a few things written down that I wanted to say, but all of a sudden…the words don’t quite feel right. So…I’ll just speak from the heart if you don’t mind.
Alida: *deep inhale and exhale* I honestly didn’t know mama as well as I should have. I know she loved to watch her stories, but other than that…I don’t know what type of music she liked to listen to. I don’t know her favorite color or if she believed in the Watcher. I don’t even know her favorite food. That’s what makes this day sadder for me than anything. I’m standing here trying to say goodbye to a woman that I realize…I didn’t really even know well. And I … *wavering voice* I d-don’t know how to do that. I didn’t get enough time – *begins to break down*
Realizing how much I’m struggling, Michelle steps up to help me out…
Michelle: It’s okay, sis. I’ve got this.
Michelle takes over on the mic and says exactly what needs to be said at the moment.
After everyone has said what’s on their hearts and minds…we all begin to migrate over to the memorial wall where mama’s picture will always be. I’m happy to see that it’ll go right next to mama Nadine’s, which is very appropriate. One gave me life, but the other raised me.
Immune to all the grief, because they didn’t know mama…Roni and Merit chat and decide to exchange voidcritter cards. Q pulls me into a big hug…which helps give me the strength that I need to see the rest of this day through.
Being surrounded by others who cared about mama helps a lot. Even the kids’ incessant chatter about things that are important only to them offers a bit of solace. Michelle and I reminisce a bit about Mama Nadine while we stare at her picture, then we share a hug.
An old lady, who is probably at the cemetery to visit her husband’s grave, loses it when she spots Michelle. And somehow, there’s always someone swarming around Michelle with a camera. I somehow manage to keep my head as we all decide that it’s time to leave.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
