If I had a sister, I don't think that I would love her more than I love my sister in law. Simon was her husband. And more than that, he was the very personification of a simple hard working good man. He was mildly religious. Just enough to consider God in his actions, but not so much to judge others or push them to switch their ways. He did everything that he could for his family - holding two jobs - and supporting his parents, his sisters, his friends, and everyone that he needed him.
Simon enjoyed the simple little things in life - No huge agendas. He loved to know, but never assumed that he knew. He spoke little and preferred to fix things than go on big vacations.
I remember when I was staying at his home and saying my good byes the night before as I had 5:30AM flight. And without telling me, he'd set his alarm clock and was up and ready before 4AM to take me to the airport - I really would have preferred him to get some sleep and I get a taxi, but that is the kind of person he was. Or I remember that he was taking a brief vacation and staying at our place, and I'd come home from work to see a new closet door installed or the dishwasher machine secured to the counter or whatever. You never had to ask him for anything; he was on the look out to see what needs to be done and would do it.
Our grief comes and goes in cycles as we switch between the good memories and laugh and the pain of having lost him. When my sister in law reconnects with life, I hope that she accepts our offer to come and live with us. Nothing would make us happier. Living alone in that house with her son away in university and her husband gone not a good place to be.
Thank you all for your support. It means a lot to me and I've shared your support with my wife. I just won't be very talkative for while. |
