• Dear God, it’s me, Janet

    Dear God,

    It’s internally overwhelming dealing with death. It’s like going out to dinner with 7 people at a table. You’re all aughing, smiling, enjoying that meal because it’s filled with love and it’s seasoned well. Your meal is over and it’s time to go back home, but then one of you don’t get back in the car. Your family is in the car and you watch the other family member stand outside the car. You wave to them and you become sad. It’s now 6 of you in the car driving back home in silence and confusion. You have to put that key in the door, open it and go up to that room where that person is no longer coming home to get in that bed. “Is this real?”

    Reality hits and now you are sad. You’re crying, hyperventilating, and your brain is racing. You ask yourself “What just happened?” “Wait, wait, did I just leave my loved one at the restaurant and watch them walk off into the fog? “Maybe, I was dreaming?” You realized that you’re not. “Are they ever coming back?” “Who told tthem to go off into the fog like that?” You grab your phone to call them and hope they will pick up. RING…. RING….RING.. RING…

    You hear something, as if someone picked up… “You have reached the voicemail of Pablo Joshua, please leave a message after the tone” “Dad, dad, are you there?” …BEEEEP…….. “Dad, please pick up, it’s me, Janet”. “Dad, can you hear me?” Then……Cancer, he answers. “No, your father is not here anymore, but you can speak to him at anytime”……silence…… more silence… more hyperventilating…..more heartache.. tears fall profusively…

    “Hello, cancer, you really took him? Cancer, you son of a bitch! “

    You really took him away from me, away from all of us??”…Who invited you into our lives?”.

    You grab your chest because you can’t breathe. You even think, “maybe I should go back to that restaurant and join him in the fog”.

    No, you can’t do that!

    Its’s morning. I hear calypso music playing. The sun is up. I just don’t smell Johnny Cakes. I wish I did.

    My dad is in my house and I see him everyday. I hear his voice, his fingers snapping, and his feet tapping to Hall & Oates.

    (Music playing…lyrics are in tune)….
    “You’re a rich girl, and you’ve gone too far
    cause you know it don’t matter anyway…
    You can rely on the old man’s money..
    You can rely on the old man’s money..”

    I walk down my steps and I see him. I smile. “Look at him, having a ball”, feeling the music in his soul. His eyes are closed and he is smiling. I see it. Look, at him. It’s my youngest son. His face is just like his. His soul is just like his. It’s beautiful to see. He’s my fathers twin.

    I go down another flight of stairs and look at my dad, laughing and talking on the phone. Its my dads laugh so distinctively. It’s my oldest son. He’s my dads other twin.

    I’m out at a restaurant and it’s music playing. I hear my dad speaking and playing his favorite tunes. I stop short, look up and smile. It’s him. There he is, being an amazing DJ that he loves to be. The voice on the mic and that’s Pablo’s voice. It’s, my brothers voice. He is such a great DJ, just like my dad. He makes his sets and send them out to people so they can enjoy and feel the love for music just like he taught us.

    Wait! Just wait a minute, look at my dad out there on the dance floor. He loves two stepping to the music. I hear Anita Baker, Kenny G, and calypso king, Arrow. You can tell he feels the music with every step he takes. It’s My little brother and he is out dancing and smiling on the dance floor, just like my dad.

    I hear sports playing, it’s loud. I use to wish he would turn that down. I hear the commentary. He’s watching sports. and now he’s broadcasting live from the station. Who would have thought that Dad? I know you are so proud of your baby boy. My youngest brother is the sportscaster. He is my dads other twin.

    I see and hear my dad all the time. I’m blessed. I’m grateful. He lives in me everyday, he lives in my sons and my brothers.

    God, my father taught me all about music.
    He lived and breathed music. All genres!

    What more could I ask for? God, his spirit is never leaving my house. You were right. I want to thank you God. I want to thank you for taking my dad and putting his soul at peace. As much as I said, I wish he was here for this or that… he is., and he multiplied.

    Thank you!
    Love Tiny!

    P.S., please let my dad know, that I miss him and his legacy of music and sports will live on forever.

    Wait, I can just tell him myself.
    Good night!

    Rest in peace to my dad, Pablo E Joshua 1/25/48 to 4/16/18

    Janet Joshua

    Voting is closed

    Subscribe  or  log in to reply

    Ad
    Ad
    • Janet, I am so sorry for your loss. Losing someone in that way can be so challenging to cope with. Your dad loved you so much and will always be with you!! The little things you said like sports and music will be there to remind you of his presence. I am so glad you worked through this hard time and have become a better person because of it.

      Write me back 

      Subscribe  or  log in to reply

      • Thank you so much Harper. I really appreciate your feedback. Loosing someone changes you internally and externally. Music is my life because of my dad. My son wants to produce music because he loves it like my dad. I love to see the joy in the music that my sons and my brothers have. It brings’ me joy. Thanks for reading.

        Write me back 

        Subscribe  or  log in to reply

    • Aww, Janet, I am so sorry for your loss. The way you describe your grief at the top of the piece is so powerful and heart-wrenching.I am sorry for the loss of your dad. I always noticed – especially at our open mic – how you included music in your poetry. Now I understand why! You definitely have your dad in you. Sending hugs. Thanks for sharing! <3 Lauren

      Write me back 

      Subscribe  or  log in to reply

      • Thank you so much Lauren. I was trying to paint the picture of what I was actually seeing in my mind and feeling. Thank you so much for this outlet!

        Write me back 

        Subscribe  or  log in to reply

    • Cancer is a son of a bitch it took my mom as well. I love how you expressed the connection of seeing your dad in your sons and brothers; Your dad’s legacy will definitely live on may he continue to rest in peace!

      Write me back 

      Subscribe  or  log in to reply

      • Thank you so much. That means a lot. I’m sorry for the loss of your mom. Need t-shirts that say eff cancer.

        Write me back 

        Subscribe  or  log in to reply

Share This:
To install The Unsealed to your device, tap Share and then Add to Home Screen.
Would like to install our app?
PNFPB Install PWA using share icon

For IOS and IPAD browsers, Install PWA using add to home screen in ios safari browser or add to dock option in macos safari browser

PNFPB Install PWA using share icon

For IOS and IPAD browsers, Install PWA using add to home screen in ios safari browser or add to dock option in macos safari browser

Progressive Web App (PWA) is installed successfully. It will also work in offline

Push notification permission blocked in browser settings. Reset the notification settings for website/PWA