Early Saturday Wendy and I were on deck and ready to orchestrate the removal of most of the furniture from Wendy’s parents place. It was very upsetting for everyone, but we knew we had to get through it. We busied ourselves boxing up books, old sewing stuff, yellowed letters and pictures and what-not. Wendy has been working here for a couple of weeks straight, weekends included, boxing up and sorting a seemingly endless collection of memories, functionally useable, and functionally obsolete or useless junk. The job is harder because decisions have to be made (most of which would be much easier for an outsider) about items that represent the life memories for a very closely knit family. Howard and Gene and the three “children” and their two each children see things in every box that reflects the past. Eleven people’s lives, all touched by some part of each item in that house.
Wendy’s brother Brad and his son Mitch from Richmond Hill arrived before noon and began loading Brad’s large trailer with items previously tagged for Wendy’s other brother Doug. Shortly after one o’clock Doug arrived after taking time off work and one load of treasure was dispatched to Thorndale much to the chagrin of Doug’s wife Daphne.
Around 1:30 I went over to Waverley and got Gene. Wendy felt; in all good conscience, she had to have her Mom there to help everyone gain some sort of closure. Certainly as her mind fails, the closure would seem less important for Gene, but for everyone else there needs to be a feeling that “it’s over”. No one is sure if the decision to bring Gene over was a good one but I think everyone would agree that it helped themselves ease their own conscience and it really had to be. At least Gene could see that the items were going to family members for future use. I’m glad Wendy persevered against the advice of social workers who advised that it would serve no purpose. Wendy was correct that Gene had a right to at least see the end of this era. For her to see it was time to move on.
By later in the day you could see that the tension was continuing to build so I suggested that Gene go with me back to Waverley. During the drive back, the confusion in her mind and the sadness and emotion of it all was too much for her. She pleaded with me to turn around and go back but I pressed on, confident that for all concerned, the day must end. (whether one wants it to or not) I could see that there would be nothing to be gained by anyone for us to return, not now or ever again! It’s over!
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