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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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WendyHoused · 02/06/2020 21:23

That's a lovely anecdote. I'm so glad your son was able to give you a happy memory during a difficult time.

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EatsShootsAndRuns · 02/06/2020 21:25

That's so touching. I've got a lump in my throat now.

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NoNameIdeas · 02/06/2020 21:26

I'm so very sorry for your loss, I don't know you but as the mummy to one little boy who is pregnant to a second please be so proud of the man you have raised. A small comfort I know on a day like today though.
Another one I tears at your beautiful, heartfelt post. Thank you for sharing it.

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IcanandIwill · 02/06/2020 21:27

Oh my. That is beautiful x

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ChippingIn · 02/06/2020 21:30

What a lovely Son, thanks to you (and his mum!) you're a lovely Dad, it really does mean the world to have a great Dad (I miss mine does much!). I'm sorry to hear about your FIL - it is sad not to have the funeral he deserved, but I bet he was a man who knew how much he was loved! X

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ChocolateQuiltedShitPig · 02/06/2020 21:30

Beautiful

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TheMerryWidow1 · 02/06/2020 21:31

Beautiful x your son must take after you, a lovely memory for u x

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FrangipaniBlue · 02/06/2020 21:34

Ahhhh love this!!

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poozel · 02/06/2020 21:35

What a wonderful, uplifting post. Thank you for sharing that. I'm sorry for the loss of your Father in law. His life was worth so much more than that last service and you just need to look at your son to show that.

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Sandsnake · 02/06/2020 21:35

Beautiful indeed. Another one here selling up, and that’s not usually my thing. Thank you for the story and sorry for you and your family’s loss Flowers

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SonEtLumiere · 02/06/2020 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Namechange8186 · 02/06/2020 21:38

That honestly brought tears to my eyes !! What a sweet story

Sorry about fil Flowers

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zscaler · 02/06/2020 21:38

How absolutely beautiful. I’m so sorry for the loss of your FIL. His legacy is in your lovely, clever, sweet, thoughtful son.

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SchadenfreudePersonified · 02/06/2020 21:42

What a lovely story - and what lovely family you are.

I do hope that when conditions permit it you get the opportunity to have a full memorial service for your FIL, and can say goodbye in the way he deserved.

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Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 02/06/2020 21:42

Made me cry too. That's lovely OP. Really lovely. 💕

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2018SoFarSoGreat · 02/06/2020 21:46

thank you for sharing this beautiful moment, at a time when we needed it.

So sorry for your loss. It is hart breaking, being unable to say a 'proper' goodbye.

When we were little our dad worked nights, and each morning we would ask if he brought us anything for our play piece, and he'd say "no. I forgot.' and all five of us would swarm over him and find a pack of something in each of his pockets - one for each of us. On Friday (pay day) we got chocolate bars. Such a special memory - and one I wish I could do once more.

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MadameJosephine · 02/06/2020 21:48

That’s just lovely, I’m so sorry for your loss but how wonderful that your DS remembered all these years and chose that moment to remind you of it.

When my 23yo DS was little at bedtime I would say ‘I love you’ and he would reply ‘I love you more’ and I’d say ‘impossible’ and then he’d shout ‘possible!’. It was our little bedtime ritual.

Years later, when he was 16 I had DD and when she got a bit older at bedtime I told her I loved her and she replied ‘I love you more’ . I then went to leave her bedroom and she said ‘No mummy you’re supposed to say impossible’ so I did and she shouted ‘possible!’. Her brother had taught her our little game and she was delighted with it. She’s 7 now and we still say it every night and it reminds me so much of when DS was little and how precious these years are when they are still young.

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matchboxtwentyunwell · 02/06/2020 21:49

Great son, great story.

Sorry for your loss. Flowers

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1Morewineplease · 02/06/2020 21:51

I’m really sorry for your loss, but what your son did was beautiful. A moment to treasure.
All good wishes to you all.

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shushymcshush · 02/06/2020 21:53

That was a beautiful thing on a very tragic day. Thinking of others in the little gestures way. Sounds like such a lot of love in that car today x

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BrutusMcDogface · 02/06/2020 21:59

💐

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nutkin7 · 02/06/2020 22:00

Sorry to hear about your FIL. What a lovely story and what a lovely man you have raised Thanks

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Lily193 · 02/06/2020 22:01

What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, AngryBananaSund. I'm sorry for your loss. Flowers

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WeightGate · 02/06/2020 22:05

This is beautiful.

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RedRec · 02/06/2020 22:05

This is one of the loveliest things I have ever read on here. Thank you for sharing it, and sorry for your loss. You have a wonderful son.

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