(NOT SUCH A) GRAND NATIONAL DAY.
When loved ones die, there are certain times of the year when one is naturally affected by their deaths more, i.e. birthdays, Christmas, memoriums, etc. However, there are other days of the year that are equally significant, and for me that day is Grand National Day. Since I was a child, the day of the Grand National was always the day when my late uncle Dennis would come to our house for lunch and then he, my father and mother would watch the Grand National race. The volume of the television would be cranked to the highest volume possible and as the race neared its end, all three of them would be shouting at the television in order to gee up the horse they wanted to win or had betted on. Our dog would start barking and then all hell would be let lose. Now when I watch the Grand National, I once more long for that pandemonium, but all that greets me is the sound of silence. Generally, I do not tend to write about my coping with grief and the ‘down days’ I get as a result of it for fear of people thinking, “Jesus Christ, get over it!” All I can reply is perhaps some of you out there have not yet lost anybody close like a parent, etc. and perhaps when you do, you might not give a monkey’s anyway. Well, I and many others have, so put that in your pipe and smoke it! :-P