October 12, 2006 7:23pm

helenebee: hey

pambeesly: hi, mom

helenebee: how was your day?

pambeesly: um, it was interesting

pambeesly: Ed Truck, the regional manager before Michael, died

helenebee: that's sad to hear

pambeesly: so of course, Michael held a meeting and we all got to watch him struggle to accept the reality and finality of death

helenebee: that sounds like what you went through when Grandpop died

helenebee: of course, you were 10

pambeesly: 10's about right for Michael

pambeesly: but during the session he wanted us to recall our own experiences with death

pambeesly: so I recounted Million Dollar Baby, but he never caught on

helenebee: :-D

pambeesly: then he found a dead bird outside the building, so I made it a coffin and we had a service for it

helenebee: wow

pambeesly: yeah, it's just part of the job, answer phones, send faxes, coordinate bird funerals

helenebee: sounds like something Jim would have done

pambeesly: yeah, it does, doesn't it

pambeesly: I miss him

helenebee: I'm sure you do

pambeesly: especially days like today

helenebee: not to sound cliché, but he really is just a phone call away

pambeesly: I know, I've memorized his Stamford number from looking it up on the company directory so many times

pambeesly: can't ever bring myself to dial that last digit, though

helenebee: it's hard, but waiting longer isn't going to make it easier

pambeesly: yeah, you're right

helenebee: I'm not trying to pressure you, I'm just saying

pambeesly: no, you're not pressuring

helenebee: but I think you will when you're ready

pambeesly: yeah, but I need a push sometimes, you know

helenebee: I know, I am your mother after all ;-)

helenebee: oh dear, your father's having a washing machine crisis again

pambeesly: wow, I'm surprised he's still allowed to touch it after last time

helenebee: he's probably not going to be allowed to anymore in about 5 minutes

pambeesly: :-)

helenebee: I love you

pambeesly: love you too

helenebee: and next time we talk, I want to hear how one throws a bird funeral ;-)

pambeesly: okay :-D