Death of Newton

Newton's Obituary

I'm afraid I have terrible news. My dad, Newton, and my mom, Erika have died. I'm not sure this is something I can really talk about yet... It's just this afternoon the kids came home from school, and we were doing homework with them, all the normal stuff, and little Plato, he was talking to Grandpa Newton and I overheard Grandpa Newton telling him to be a nice boy (he has a tendency to pick on his sisters) But there was something different about the way he was talking to Plato which made me stop and listen. He told Plato he was a very special boy in a very special family, and that he was lucky to have two sisters like Isadora and Caliopie, he told them that it was his job to watch out for them, and take care of them - "Remember" he said "Always be nice, no matter what someone else does or what happens to you."

I heard Kaylynn burst into tears. I know it was a touching speech but Kaylynn's not THAT emotional. Dad was just standing there smiling at Plato who was saying "I'll be nice Grandpa, I promise, I'll try hard to be nicer." My dad just smiled like he was looking beyond all of us.

At first I thought he might be looking at those hula girls who suddenly showed up in our living room (I thought I was the only one who could see invisible half naked girls dancing in my house!) But he didn't even see the dancing girls. He was staring at Mom.

Mom was standing in the kitchen staring into the face of death. "Newton" was the only word to slip from her lips.

We were all frozen as we watched the Reaper pass the cup to Mom. We wanted to scream that it was too soon - that we weren't ready - that Caliopie still wanted her Grandma to give her piano lessons and that Isadora wasn't going to get make cookies with her after dinner like she'd promised. We all searched for a reason that would keep her with us. None of us could say anything, and Dad just smiled like he was so proud of her. Deep down we knew she had lived a full life and that better things waited for her on the other side.

"Come Hither, Soul" we heard the Reaper crack in a coarse dry voice - and even though he had come to collect my mother's soul, it almost seemed like he was being a gentleman about it. Mom stepped towards him, suitcase in hand, and in an instant she had faded away. I glanced at dad and he was following right behind her. Gone. Both of my parents. I don't know how we'll go on.

My parents lived a good life, and we got them markers to reflect the success they shared which of course created the legacy that we now live.

Isadora was devastated by the loss of her grandparents. Family is very important to her. When it was all over she ran up to their bedroom and sobbed. She slept all night in their bed and no one stopped her. When she woke up in the morning she came downstairs with a book - it was our Family Bible and in it my parents had written a letter to their grandchildren.

This is what the letter said.

Dear Isadora, Plato, and Caliopie, We want you to know how proud we are of the three of you. You are the next generation of our legacy and symbolize future for our family. We don't know which one of you will carry on the next generation of our family's legacy, but we know that wherever your families live it will be a very special home. We are leaving behind a gift for the future. Your great great grandma Cassidy was a scientist and she invented a special baby formula that we have fed to each generation of Legalos babies. We are leaving a cooler of this 'smart milk' to each of you because we know you will be wonderful parents who will always give their children her very best. We love you all and we'll always be with you. Grandpa Newton and Grandma Erika.

As Promised, 3 Thermal Coolers of Smart Milk sat on the nursery counter, waiting for the next generation.

Once Isadora thought she saw the ghost of Newton in the cemetery and she took this picture. I'm not one to believe in ghosts and I don't really see anything, but she thinks it looks like her Grandpa.

Kaylynn didn't think much of the picture until one night, while making a snack, the ghost of Newton jumped out of the refrigerator and scared the pee out of her! Ghosts jumping out of the refrigerator has become a big family joke now. When all of the Baked Alaska leftovers mysteriously disappear we all blame it on 'the ghost'

Just a footnote - after my parents died we found this painting my dad had been working on and never finished. It was a picture of Mom napping on the couch. She must have looked like an angel.

Death of Newton - Generation 4

Newton's Obituary