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Elizabeth
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| Posted: April 12 2005 at 1:38pm | IP Logged
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I asked Michael (16) to write a memoir of the day the Pope died. What struck me most about this is his last line--remember Michael is the big brother to six siblings. This is completely unedited.
The days leading to Pope John Paul II’s death were of disbelief. Not disbelief in his mortality, but disbelief in the departure of a guide, a standard-bearer, a measuring stick of sorts.
I never met His Holiness, I never saw him give a homily, I never heard him speak in person. Yet, like many, I felt a very intimate connection with him. JPII embodied the qualities of a man every boy strives to be. I was drawn to his ability to offer a tangible spirituality without making God seem “uncool” or outdated. His ability to relate struck me as something more powerful than any speech or document I have ever read. I have grown up with the Pope always existing, he has always been the face of my Catholic faith. This left me unable to comprehend any life without him. So when faced with his imminent death I was numb to any idea of absence. With papers screaming headlines of doom, and talking heads turned philosophers speculating on the significance of the pontiff’s reign I refused to even acknowledge the fact JPII was even ailing. It’s like having you’re best friend move away. You know he is moving, but you’ve been together for so long you cannot imagine him not being there so you deal by believing he isn’t.
Then he died. At 3:00PM on a sunny Saturday, the Pope died. The Pope was dead. At 84 Pope John Paul II was dead. That’s all anyone could say, the Pope was dead. How anyone can keep repeating the Pope is dead over and over again is beyond me. There it was; he was gone. Yet, all the grief and pain I thought would surge through me never did. I just stared at the screen that kept repeating monotonously the Pope was dead.
At the time I was in a hotel room with a friend who played on my soccer team. He looked over at me and said, “You all right?” “Yea, I’m good…you need anything? I’m going to get something to drink.” I replied. “Nah,” my friend said, “I’m good, take your time.” He sensed I wasn’t really thirsty. I didn’t know what I was, I just felt kind of sick. I passed another teammate, “What’s up Foss?” he asked smiling. I turned to him trying to remember how to reply to “What’s Up?” “The Pope died…a few minutes ago.” I mumbled as I walked away, not really caring what he said in reply.
I called home and my mom answered, crying.
"Hi," I said not exactly sure what to say when a family friend died. "You watching TV?" I asked still trying to piece together a complete sentence.
"Uh-huh" mom sniffled, she too wasn't one for words.
"I dunno," I said, "Are you okay?" Not quite sure exactly what I would do if she wasn't.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine." Mom replied calmer, unconvincingly,but calmer. "Do you need anyone?" I asked. "No, I'm fine, have a good game...he played soccer all the time when he was 16." She said as her voice cracked.
"All right I'll call later." I wasn't sure where else to go with this. "I love you." I ended.
"Love you too" Mom said.
They say to remember the good times you had, to remember how great a Pope he was, remember that he is in a better place. I don’t know, maybe that works for some people. I think it’s moronic. If you remember someone by his actions, if you remember this Pope with a series of dates and documents you will forget him. You will forget that he was our friend and our brother. He will become nothing more than a name in a history book.
John Paul II was relatable, everyone knew him, and everyone had a relationship with him. I think Fidel Castro put it best when he said the Pope was “like family.” Or maybe it was Bono, who called him a “Funky Pontiff”. He was the world’s big brother.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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MEBarrett
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| Posted: April 12 2005 at 2:09pm | IP Logged
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That is one impressive young man Elizabeth.
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Blessings,
Mary Ellen
Mom to seven beautiful kids
Tales from the Bonny Blue House
O Night Divine
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Meredith
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| Posted: April 12 2005 at 3:58pm | IP Logged
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Awesome, Elizabeth, I'm going to have my almost 9 yo dd read this and have her give me her thoughts on how homeschooling can lead to this kind of realtionship to this great person and be able to articulate and write about him so eloquently. He's definitely got your genes of expression and writing. Please thank him for us and for sharing his heart.
+JMJ+
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Leonie
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| Posted: April 13 2005 at 12:17am | IP Logged
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That was a great narration!
We all wrote in our journals about the Pope - it was interesting to see each individual response.
Thanks for sharing.
Leonie in Sydney
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: April 13 2005 at 6:09am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth - this is a beautiful narration. What wonderful insight your son has. Thanks for posting this, it was a blessing to be able to read it.
God Bless,
Wendi
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Mare
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| Posted: April 13 2005 at 6:57am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth,
Thank you for sharing this with us. I thought it was a great narration. I also agree with Wendi. Your son has wonderful insight on the day.
Peace,
Mare
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alicegunther
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| Posted: April 13 2005 at 9:08am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth, this piece is incredible and needs to be published right away. It could not be better or more heartfelt. The perfect expression of the grief felt by the young, who were so loved by our Holy Father.
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
      
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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Erica Sanchez
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| Posted: April 21 2005 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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We finally got around to narrations on Pope John Paul II. Technically my kids have only done about 3 official narrations each - I think we're starting to get the hang of it! I thought you all might get a kick out of Nick's narration - 6 years old and all boy! The facts are a bit sketchy  and there are run on sentences, but I didn't stop him!
I LOVE JOHN PAUL II AND I'M SORRY THAT HE DIED, I'M REALLY SORRY THAT HE DIED
Karol was a young boy and he liked lots of sports. Karol liked playing soccer with his friends and his dog. One early evening, the dad came sadly walking out of the back apartment room and he told his son that his mother and his sister just died. A few weeks later after that, his brother wanted to be a doctor, so he went off to be a doctor and they got a telegram saying their oldest brother died by scarlet fever. Now they are only living with two people in their family. A few weeks later after that, Karol came running from school to the apartment room and he couldn't believe his eyes. His dad was now lying on the couch dead.
He decides to go to that one place, the univeristy school. He learns about nature and stuff like that and later after that when he was all grown up, he was a priest and then he came to be a cardinal. And then he got chose as John Paul II. He was the pope.
To John Paul II from Nicholas. The End.
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Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 21 2005 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
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How sweet! He certainly is catching on!
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: John Paul II
