The One Good Thing                June 2002

There is only one good thing that has come out of my Seuss' death and that's my friendship with V, his widow.  

From the moment V told me about Seuss, and I said to her, "Let me know if there's anything I can do", I felt a very strong connection.  This was a woman who loved Seuss as much as I did. Well, MORE, and in a different way, but as much.  

Talking to her that day, I wanted to take both her pain and mine away.  I felt like I had to be strong for her, even though I was crumbling inside.  I had to do something.  I asked.  She answered.  She said, "Come over and cry with me".  That's what I did.  

I sat beside her on the couch, we cried and laughed and I told her "Work Seuss" stories.  She and her friends and family told me "Home Chuy" stories.  I think we both came out of that evening learning more about the man we both loved.  I played with their son and made him giggle.  I met all her family and his.  People that I had heard about dozens of times, but never actually met.  I felt a stronger connection to Seuss than I had ever before. 

The day of his memorial service, I sat with them for hours.  A friend of V's, 'M', is my friend now too.  She was kind enough to hold my hand and walk up to the casket with me, because I just couldn't go alone. I couldn't bear to see him so still.   Then she let me cry on her shoulder, as if we had been friends forever.  

These wonderful people, strangers to me just days before, have become such a part of my life, that I can't imagine not having them.  

In the week following his death, V and I talked several times daily, clearing up business matters, but mostly just hearing each other talk out our pain and grief.  The following week my boss, J & I, went to the burial of his ashes.  I said yet another goodbye to him.  

V, M & I go out a lot now.   We talk on the phone, e-mail each other and do dinner and movies.  We like being together.  We're friends. 

A few weeks ago, V, J {their son}  & M came to my house for dinner.  V said she had a present for me. I opened it.  It was a picture of Seuss and his son J that I had admired at their house.  It was his smile and his son's that got to me.  J looked up at me.  "Why are you crying?  Did you love my poppy too?" 

Yes, J, I loved your poppy very much.  

V giving me that picture means more to me than anything.  It sits on my desk at work and each day I look at him and smile.  

We decided to get through this together.  We decided to smile, and laugh and remember the good times with Seuss.  We know that's what Seuss would've wanted.  

But mostly we decided to be friends.  

Good times ahead        My Seuss        Kfizgig Home Page