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AIBU?

To think this was perfectly timed

101 replies

AngryBananaSund · 02/06/2020 20:45

(Sorry this is much longer than I’d planned)

Many years ago we went on a family holiday to a uk caravan site. Some nights we’d go to the on-site bar that did kids shows (and sold booze) and sometimes I’d do this. I’d order our drinks at the bar, and when I’d handed them out I would look at my son and say

“Oh! Did you want a packet of crisps.” As if this was something I’d just thought of

‘Yes please” he’d say, and named one of the two flavours of crisp he liked

So then I’d look at the bar and shake my head. “Oh I don’t know it’s getting busy now”

“Oh pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”

I’d look thoughtful and say. “Let’s try this. Close your eyes.’ And because my son was three he did. Then I’d put in front of him one of the two flavours of crisp I’d already bought at the bar and put in my jacket pockets (we would eat the other.) I’d tell him to open his eyes and say “magic crisps.’ He’d look at the crisps that had just appeared from thin air and then up at me with huge shining eyes as if I were the most wonderful thing in the world, (sadly this doesn’t last) Maybe it wasn’t the best joke in the world, but it made us happy

But that was thirty years ago, and today we were on our way home from FIL’s funeral, so we were all a bit broken up. We’d been driving for an hour when I said

“Did anyone get any fruit gums at the services?” (For my wife to feed me as I drove)

The answer was no, and we drove on in slightly melancholic silence

And then our son, our amazing son, said “I can’t ask you to close your eyes because you are driving. But here-“

And he put his hand through the gap between the seats clutching a slim cylinder

“Here you are, magic fruit gums”

Thirty years he’s been waiting to pull that one! Thirty years and he chose the perfect moment to give us all a lift, sadly it didn’t last, FIL was 88, he was a proud strong man and raised three good kids, and at the end he got three songs and two readings from someone that wouldn’t know him from Adam, it’s not much for a life

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AlwaysDancing1234 · 02/06/2020 20:50

AngryBananaSund

I’m not ashamed to say your post made me cry. What a wonderful little game to play with your son all those years ago and a lovely man you have raised to do that today and try and lift your spirits. Sorry for the loss of you FIL Flowers

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Juanmorebeer · 02/06/2020 20:52

I just fully welled up. I've had a hard day and dealt with a few deaths today and that was so, so beautiful. We like caravan holidays too OP.

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RyanBergarasTeeth · 02/06/2020 20:53

Ohh what a lovely story. Sorry for your loss and please dont think the lack of a long service wasnt much to show for his life. Look at the legacy he left behind in the form of his grandsons. Flowers

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Smallsteps88 · 02/06/2020 20:54

Oh that is just beautiful. You’re a lovely dad. And your son has inherited that.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Thanks

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Bananasplitlady · 02/06/2020 20:55

Oh that made me well up! How lovely. I'm sorry for your loss Flowers

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glasshalfsomething · 02/06/2020 20:56

How lovely. I think every parent would love a memory like that being delivered back to them so eloquently one day. How kind of your son, and what a testament to you.

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Thisismytimetoshine · 02/06/2020 20:57
Smile
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TheSmelliestHouse · 02/06/2020 20:59

I hope my son grows up to be as lovely as your son.

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ScarfLadysBag · 02/06/2020 20:59

Lovely story. Sorry for your loss Thanks

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atimetobealive · 02/06/2020 21:01

😭😭😭😭

What a dad you are and what a lovely son 😢

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dappledsunshine · 02/06/2020 21:01

Perfectly timed, how lovely Thanks

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WrongKindOfFace · 02/06/2020 21:01

@Smallsteps88

Oh that is just beautiful. You’re a lovely dad. And your son has inherited that.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Thanks

Yes, this. I’m also sorry for your loss but Smallstep is right, your FIL’s legacy is his wonderful family.

I’m a hard faced one at the best of times but that did make me well up.
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Gottalovesummer · 02/06/2020 21:02

What a beautifully told story and a very emotional take on your FiL's funeral.He clearly was a very loved man.

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Boomclaps · 02/06/2020 21:05

I’m sorry you’ve had such a pants time. Your son sounds lovely

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Krazynights34 · 02/06/2020 21:09

I’m a hard nosed cow but that’s a heartwarming story 😀

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DysonFury · 02/06/2020 21:10

Beautiful Flowers

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looselegs · 02/06/2020 21:12

Beautiful! It just goes to show that it's little things like that that kids remember, not big showy things.
Perfectly timed x

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Morgan12 · 02/06/2020 21:13

Well that is the nicest thing I've read all week.

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dudsville · 02/06/2020 21:15

Awe that gave me a big smile!

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SimpleKindofLife · 02/06/2020 21:18

Sorry got your loss. What a lovely thing to do! You sound like a wonderful, thoughtful family.

I'm going to do that with my dc, a home version for the time being, obviously.

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bulletjournalbilly · 02/06/2020 21:18

Beautiful. I've just welled up Thanks

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WhenISnappedAndFarted · 02/06/2020 21:18

That made me tear up as well Flowers

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Lulalulabelle · 02/06/2020 21:19

I think this is the hands down the best post I’ve ever read on here. We are about to lose someone really close and this has really resonated with me. Thank you x

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Lulalulabelle · 02/06/2020 21:20

So sorry about your FIL x

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AllHallowsEve14 · 02/06/2020 21:22

I'm so glad I opened this thread Flowers

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