comings and goings

yesterday sebastian and i were upstairs both trying to figure out subtraction when jasper spun into the flat, bursting with importance.

of course, at first i thought he had to do a wee, and just pointed him towards the bathroom.

"nnoooooo mummy! noooo! de is downstairs! de is downstairs!"

DE! downstairs! (at left, mila, lita and de with the triplets and sebastian in 2005.)

sebastian looked at him and said, "you mean de who used to live with us?" (like there are so many others that we know??) I LOVE SEBASTIAN

sebastian and i jumped up and i ran to the kitchen and looked over the playground. there was de. talking to gary, tara and susan.

de. who is going back to the philippines to spend time with his daughter until their papers get processed and de and baby melissa (now 5!!) will be reunited in canada with lita. de. in our playground.

sebastian and i rushed to put on our shoes, and we headed down in the lift.

i think i scared de, as i rushed to him and hugged him. hard.

we talked about the kids, how they have grown. sela and carys were riding their bicycles, and jasper was racing around.  sebastian ran toward de and said, "hello de!" and gave him such a warm hug.

it was a short visit. i had to get to a pta meeting, (and i was late!) but jasper and i walked de to the bus stop. and i said i would see him again in canada. jasper agreed. we all hugged again and then he started to walk away from us.

and then the tears started coming down my face. i called out again.

"de!" and he turned and looked at me. and immediately looked concerned.

"thank you de. thank you so much for everything. we love you so much."

how can you not love people who have been such a part of your family? who have loved your children so much, that even two years after their departure, the kids still run to them with joy? so much that JASPER even volunteers to walk to prolong the visit? that is love.

lita and de saw us through such a difficult time in our lives. i can't ever forget them or think of them with anything but love and gratitude. they loved our children, were so patient with them and with charles and me.  the time with gary and marianne is less intense, but the same love to our children is there. we have been so blessed.

de called back to me, "no, i thank you."

i lifted up my arm, he lifted up his, and we smiled, and then i watched him walk away. and jasper tugged at my hand and said, "why is your face all red? are you the sun?"

and i said, "no, i am the mummy."

Comments

[Louise M]

Beautiful post, I am so glad you got to see him again.

[Jill]

That was beautiful. We are like that with Melo....and so sad and happy when she left us to be with her own family. We are now looking again, but how do you find a caregiver/helper with the 'it' factor with you children? It is rare and it came along when you needed it the most.

[Mo aka Maureen aka Grandmother aka Mum]

Ohhhhh Tess. It just makes me ache to read your blog and remember those times when Lita and De lived with you and gave so much of themselves to your family. What a privilege to know them. I too look forward to seeing the three of them in Canada.

Love, M xox

[Dad aka GDad Blake]

Isn't it great when your status changes from employer-employee to friends.
Love to all...Dad

[Auntie pammie]

What a great surprise to se De! I wish he, Lita and Melissa all the best!
Love Auntie Pammie and Alex

[Lucy]

Tess isn't it wonderful that they will all finally be re-united. It has been a priviledge to have known such self-sacrificing people, and to know that they will finally have a life together. Love Lucy

[edebock]

I am so glad to hear that Lita, De & Melissa will soon be together!