My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

OP posts:
Report

Am I being unreasonable?

185 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
3%
You are NOT being unreasonable
97%
Nixen · 02/06/2020 23:19

That’s a really lovely story, thank you for sharing it with us.

I’m sorry for your loss Flowers

Report
Jasharps · 02/06/2020 23:20

Sorry for your loss.

You and your son sound like lovely people Flowers

Report
Thinkingabout1t · 02/06/2020 23:22

A beautiful, touching story. FIL’s legacy is his kind and loving family.

Report
buckeejit · 02/06/2020 23:28

Sorry for your loss & well done that son x

Report
Lavenderpurple · 02/06/2020 23:31

Aww this story is so lovely.
I’m sorry for your loss.

Report
wildcherries · 02/06/2020 23:38

I did not expect that. Beautiful. I'm sorry for your loss.

Report
scottgirl · 02/06/2020 23:40

Crying

Report
Clemmieandareallybigbunfight · 02/06/2020 23:46

Yup that got me too. thanks op Grin

Report
Mummyoflittledragon · 02/06/2020 23:50

That’s an adorable story. So is the possible one Smile

Report
MadameMeursault · 03/06/2020 00:10

What a lovely story and a lovely family. Sorry for your loss Flowers

Report
LadyGAgain · 03/06/2020 00:12

Doesn't that go to show what an impact parents have on their children!
Well done you!!

So sorry for the loss of your FIL. I hope you get to host him the memorial you would choose

Report
e1y1 · 03/06/2020 00:13

Beautiful story.

Sorry for your loss Flowers

Report
Wynston · 03/06/2020 00:19

Thank you for taking the time to share that story with us.....i can picture it so well!!
So sorry for your loss......so sad that people aren't able to have the funerals they deserve but we are thinking of you all at this time x

Report
IdblowJonSnow · 03/06/2020 00:26

Loved that op.
So sorry for your loss. Flowers

Report
ButtonMoonLoon · 03/06/2020 00:29

Oh, that has finished me off. What a truly special moment.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us

Report
Lynda07 · 03/06/2020 00:29

That is in many ways a lovely story. Your son is great!

I'm so sorry about your father in law. It is possible to have a secular funeral with readings from people who knew the person - I have been to one and it was good. Bear that in mind for next one which I hope will not be for a long time.

Report
Rebelwithallthecause · 03/06/2020 00:30

This made me tear up.
Sorry about your FIL

What a lovely Son and family Daffodil

Report
Serin · 03/06/2020 00:44

That is just about the nicest thing I have read on here. Flowers

Report
AngryBananaSund · 03/06/2020 13:05

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and I’m sorry for the tears but we were all feeling very maudlin yesterday, and today we just feel ... numb.

But I guess that’s the nature of death today, it’s an invisible truck that smashes you flat, and while you are picking yourself up you realise that nobody else saw what happened and their life continues as if nothing has happened, but the truck leaves behind its own small measure of mercy in the form of a flood of paperwork that covers you with certificates,wills, probate and tax form IHT205 that insulates you from the pain

...and now I’m being maudlin again, I’m sorry

OP posts:
Report
Flamingo30 · 03/06/2020 13:31

This made me cry. 😢 What a lovely son. Sorry for your loss. Xx

Report
RainMustFall · 03/06/2020 13:59

Such a beautiful story among all the doom and gloom and negative threads about pretty much everything.

I loved reading it, thanks so much OP Smile

Report
scottgirl · 03/06/2020 19:01

Driving to work today and thought of this thread, more tears... I think it is such a powerful example of what is important, especially in times like these. Lots of love to your wonderful Family.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

RedRed9 · 03/06/2020 19:10

I know you may not feel lucky right now OP, but you are: what a lovely, lovely family you all are and were. Not everyone can say that.

As an aside; you have a wonderful writing voice. Do you write? And if not please consider it.

Report
Querencia · 03/06/2020 21:20

So sorry to hear about your FIL. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Flowers

What a lovely, thoughtful young man you and your wife have raised. And what perfect timing for the delivery of a wonderful childhood memory.

I vote for this thread to be in classics Star

Report
OhCaptain · 03/06/2020 21:24

Oh this was lovely.

You have beautiful way with words @AngryBananaSund. Flowers for your lovely FIL.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.