AnswerID: 105072 Submitted: Monday, Apr 04, 2005 at 12:08
Wombat
replied:
G'day mate,
Just turned the 'puter on for the first time since Friday (mostly because I look at this damned monitor 12 hours a day, five days a week) and have been reading the heartfelt tributes from the ExplorOz forumites. I was going to attempt to pen something enlightening on Friday, but as Truckster said ". . . hard to know what to say". So I thought it wise to reflect over the weekend in an effort to compose something which might help to ease the heartache and emptiness which you and your family are undoubtedly enduring.
Well guess what?
There are no words that I, or anyone else for that matter, could bash into a keyboard which could possibly erase the hurt, the anger and that feeling of "being lost". Emotions that unfortunately most of us have experienced during our limited time on this earth. There is also nothing we can do to bring those beautiful children back for you. On hearing the sad news both Helen and my thoughts went back to that great day in the high country when we both agreed that Kate and Daryl were the type of kids that we would be proud for our own little treasure to grow up like. GIVE DON A BIG CUDDLE FOR US!!!!!!
The only meek words we can offer at this time are that our thoughts are with you and that we are sharing your pain in our own small ways. I was sitting in MacDonalds on Saturday night with my girls, on the way home from visiting my dear old dad in hospital when I picked the Herald Sun up to catch up with any news. Of course, in black and white in front of me there was further confirmation that tragedy in the newspaper doesn't always involve strangers. Half way through the eulogistic article the first of what were to be many teardrops hit the printed page. Unashamedly I cried for your loss. Pity the next poor bugger who picked up his complimentary 'paper for a read because it ended up being more than a little bit soggy!
Following is a copy for you and your family of Christina Rossetti 's words that my beautiful mother (she had time to say goodbye) demanded that we read for mourners at her funeral:
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
As hard as may seem at this time try to rejoice in the fact that these two wonderful children lived and the wonderful carefree life that they had, rather than mourning the fact that they are gone.
Paul, Helen and Kiralee
Reply 73 of 89
