My life took an unexpected turn Wednesday 16th, when my sister called me, crying on the phone, to tell me to come quickly as dad was very bad. They found metastases in his liver and bones. I just couldn’t realise what she was saying. I was in shock and unable to take any decision, do anything. Thankfully, Sebastien was super efficient and booked my flight and quarantine. He took the earliest flight he could on Saturday, but that wasn’t quick enough. Dad passed away Friday 18th and I could only talk to him via WhatsApp.
The last 10 days were surreal. I managed to get ready to leave: suitcase done, PCR test done, left instructions to Sebastien and the kids, transferred my knowledge for the second-hand uniform sale planed for the 26th, excused myself at work and with the parent reps. I flew out Saturday 19th. Hong Kong airport was almost deserted, that was spooky. I had to walk all the terminal to find one shop open that was selling water. I was lucky to have a friend on the same flight to Paris. It helped me not think about all that happened. It took me 25.5 hours to reach Avignon station, including waiting time. I was very happy to see my sister at the station waiting for me.
Sunrise somewhere above northern Europe 
Sea of clouds somewhere above Belgium
My sister and my mum had already started organising the funeral, informing people, etc. There was not much I could contribute, so I took charge of the food. Monday and Tuesday were very busy with the organisation of the funeral. The phone kept on ringing. So many people wanted to pay their respects. It’s easy to put all the feelings to one side when you are busy like that.
Wednesday, there was not much for me to do so I spent the afternoon with my grand-dad, my dad’s dad. It’s pretty hard for him to bury his son. But at the same time, at 98, he has an exceptional longevity! We had a lovely time, he told me lots of stories from when he was a young man.
Thursday, my mum’s sister, brother and sister-in-law arrived. We had dinner outside at my dad’s house. We celebrated his love of food and of having people over to eat. He loved his house, he loved cooking and this was his way of showing he cared.
Friday was the funeral. He had a proper send off. Three of his choirs sang at the office, several people talked about his love of music and that was very emotional. There was a lot of people in the church. That warmed my heart to see that he touched so many people. His last few years were quite hard and he felt lonely a lot. After the office, we had lunch in Avignon with the close family. We found a lovely place where we had privacy while being outside. The food was good and we reminisced his life. It was also great to see everybody, my family that I haven’t seen in two years. Without this, I would have gone another year without seeing them. Even under such sad circumstances, I count my blessings.
Extract from “Kings of Terrors” – 1910
Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I, and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used, put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we shared together.
Let my name ever be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.
After lunch, we came back to my dad’s house and we had a small gathering around the plane tree with one of his favourite music pieces. And then we parted.
My mum worked in the regional newspaper and one of the journalists wrote a very thoughtful article about my dad. Sorry, it is in French.
Note: The picture at the top has been taken at Hong Kong airport while waiting for my flight. Sunset on the airport, how fitting…