Jo Jo

Repeated, with big hugs and much love ♥

– – – – – – – – – –

Unusual happens when someone I love dies.
Call it a gift.
Call it weird.
But, it’s been a part of me for as long as I can remember so, at this point, I figure it is here to stay.

I ‘see’ them.
I ‘feel’ them.
I know when they’re near
& they gently assure me, all is ok.

I saw Gramma at her funeral.
There she was, clear as day.
So clear, I stood up and began to say “Time to go home …” before I realized she was not physically with us anymore.

I’ve seen Mom a few times.
I feel her quite often.
Dream hugs, visits, sign after sign after wonderful sign.
Oh yes, Mom most definitely let’s me know when she’s here.

I’ve had many a dream conversation with friends, aunts and uncles.
It’s not creepy or scary.
It’s comforting and beautiful and I will remain forever open to it, to them.

But with Jo Jo, it was different.
No visits.
No signs.
No nothing
& every once in awhile I catch myself wondering, why not ?
Where are you my auntie ?
Why don’t you visit me ??

& then, last night and the night before happened.
She came to me in a dream or three.
All prettied up and gorgeously Jo Jo.
If we talked, I don’t remember what was said and our dream encounters were brief.
But, she was there.
Finally there
& now, she is hovering.
I can feel her.
She’s reminding me of her love of owls as I’ve seen many pictures and references
& just yesterday, I came across a long forgotten box of letters.
Letters that my daughters wrote to their Great Aunt back when pen-pal writing was their thing to do.
Auntie saved each one.
She gave them to me as a keepsake, a priceless keepsake.

I miss you Auntie Jo Jo.

I miss our telephone calls when no matter what was happening, you’d always reply ‘No, I’m not busy”
& an hour or so later we’d still be yappin.

I miss sitting at your kitchen table drinking coffee with you.
Listening to your reminiscences, your Young & Restless updates, your political views and your town gossip.

I miss your pots of red soup and spaghetti sauce
& those giant boxes of pizza you’d insist on buying to feed allllll the family who’d cram into your house to feel that love.

I miss your travels to us.
The weddings, the fests, the just because.
You and your sister Lorraine took a sure to be Chicago Bears boy and turned him into a true blue, forever loyal Buffalo Bills fan
& those daughters of mine still laugh about the days of Batman.

Most of all, I miss YOU.
Simple, generous, bold, strong, straightforward you.

It’s taken you a while to dream visit, Auntie and I was getting a little worried there, lady.
But then I remembered you’re Jo Jo.
Everybody knows Jo Jo.
Everybody loves Jo Jo
& silly me wonders what took you so long ??
duh.
You had a whole lot of catching up to do because they all missed you too
& that reunion you share ?

It’s heavenly, I’m sure.

🙂

Dancing With Jesus