Daniel and Carli, 2013 |
Dear Daniel,
Happy Valentine’s Day.
I know it’s a particularly sad holiday for you this
year, the first one without Carli. To tell you the truth, I’ve never liked this
holiday anyway because it romanticizes love in a way that cheapens it.
You’ve recently seen how love really is—an unpredictable,
unfair, rollercoaster, with highs and lows you can’t control. It’s a force that
requires everything, and you’ve given everything. At your young age, you’ve
just lost the love of your life, the mother to your young son, Micah—your angelic
Carli.
If I were callous, I’d give you a bunch of advice, or say something stupid like, “You’ll love someone again, one day, in God’s timing...” but shit, I can’t say that. Please, please, please, dear Daniel...forgive the people who say that to you. They mean well, I promise you.
Daniel 2008 |
I remember the day I met you.
You were tall and slim,
even back then, a picture of your father. You were tender and felt things deeply,
like your mother. All wrapped up in a wonderful, fun, young man who was so
grateful for everything. Oh my word...you wowed us even then. Our trip
to Bloemfontein involved going to the LTT during the day, and coming back to
the VanAswegen house at night, to be entertained by you amazing kids, with plays,
dances, and live shows. You taught me how to play board games, and you loved my
laugh.
After a week, when it was time to leave, I was loading
up our suitcases and had a meltdown by our car. Your mom came out to see what
was wrong, and I said, “I can’t go back into that house and say goodbye to your
kids.” In one week, I had bonded with you so much, four of the most dynamic
human beings I had ever met, I was overwhelmed with love for you.
Through the years, especially during our time in South
Africa, your family became ours. We loved you with our whole hearts. You kids
continued to grow, play musical instruments, and dance! Do you remember showing
me your rock-and-roll dance with Annie (not Anine)? My jaw was on the floor!
After we moved back to the States, you and Carli upgraded your status and became serious. Hearing that you were in love, an intense love relationship, with a girl named Carli, made me both shocked and happy. “Is Daniel that old?” Your mom assured me you were, and she also assured me Carli was wonderful for you.
Daniel and Carli, man and wife |
First came love, then came marriage, then came Micah
in a baby carriage! The children’s song we used to sing while jumping rope didn’t
include what came next: then came sickness.
You, being so musical, can understand what I’m about
to say: it was the scratching needle on the album, the sudden stop of
everything. Nevertheless, we all prayed and hoped. After all, there were a
variety of different treatments and Carli was so YOUNG!
At first, only her appearance changed. The medicine
used to treat the disease took more as time went on. Little things, like going
to the store, was a big deal. COVID changed even more things, because Carli
could not get it. Ever.
Even after you had tattoos, even after you became a
hard-rocker, even after you married and were sleep deprived with a young son,
you were the same Daniel. After sickness, I saw you change. Something in you
hardened...and we all knew why. Why. Why. Why Carli? Why now? Why. Why. Why.
Carli posted this pic of herself, after she shaved her whole head. |
Daniel, you know real love. Not the Valentine’s Day version of love, not the romance, not the roses and chocolates, but the chemotherapy kind of love, the aching heart that is powerless to stop your wife from vomiting, or feeling dizzy, kind of love. You know the kind of love that assures your dying wife that her toddler son will be alright if she dies. You know the kind of love that stares death in the face. That’s the kind of love you know. That’s the dark side of love that no one can prepare you for. No one likes to admit it exists.
You know the kind of love that has to listen to
ignorant people, suggesting herbal remedies as your wife fades away. Your love
stays up at night and has to work the next morning. Your love gets your son
dressed, lifts him up to kiss his mother, over the rails of the hospital bed
you had to rent. That’s the kind of love you had at the end—the unfair kind of love that
steals from you, slowly, so you won’t miss one thing about the unfair theft.
Today, in the throng of Cupids and chocolate, I can
tell you that you have seen the kind of love that most people will not ever see. We can
surround you, and tell you how much we love you, but it won’t bring Carli back,
and it won’t ever make any of this whole thing make sense. What it can do, if
you’re lucky, is help you understand the rest of it: the rest of your life that
you now have to do without her.
There are no maps. There are no right ways. There’s
only you and Micah and God, and all of us, around you, waiting to do something,
even the smallest something, that might help.
Sometimes, I wish I were really wealthy. Not so I can
wear nice clothes or buy great stuff, but sometimes I wish I could charter a
private plane and come over there, just to sit in a chair by you. Here is what
I would say: nothing. I love you. Nothing. I love you. Nothing.
You know love, Daniel, and today, on Valentine’s Day, I wish you a day of breathing in and out, and I pray those breaths would be sweet. I pray that you have the strength to chisel your way through the terrible marble-like grief that wants to disable you. I want to say I love you, and then I want to shut up.
I love you.
❤
Auntie Janet
“I want to say I love you, and then I want to shut up.”
ReplyDeleteThese are probably the perfect words. My prayers are lifted tonight for Daniel, for Micah, and for Carli.
Thank you, dear Shannon! I know you understand the importance of someone shutting up around someone who is grieving. Thank you for reading...
DeleteBeautifully written. I wish you could be here too. The memories tou shared are precious.
ReplyDelete- Annie (Not Anine)
Thank you Annie (Not Anine)...I miss you all so much, especially during times like these. I love you.
DeleteWow! No words feelings memories. We all empathise and wish you strength and mercy and a will to go on and overcome. Your maker knows and cares ♡
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reading. Please pray for Daniel.
ReplyDelete