13. Voice

[prettymorlock]

So this is New York, but it's...not. Well, at least not my New York. There are tons of similarities but the differences add up and there are certain things that just aren't here

Comments

Voice; Private

[ahhmahgawd]

Your momma?

Voice; Private

[prettymorlock]

Yeah. It's next week. I went by the graveyard and there's someone else where her resting place would be.

Voice; Private

[ahhmahgawd]

Ah get it. Like the lady down there said, Ah think all you can do is remember her.

Voice; Private

[prettymorlock]

I know you would. I think she might be right too. Maybe I'll plant something out in the garden for her too.

[Voice]

[fishnets]

Close your eyes and remember.

[Voice]

[prettymorlock]

I can definitely do that. It's just weird not to be able to leave flowers.

[Voice]

[fishnets]

They know. Believe me, they know if you're thinking about them.

If it's tradition, you could always plant some or keep them in a vase, somewhere that you can see them and remember. Do something you think they would have liked to, if they were still alive.

And... try not to cry. Live your life like they'd want you to and smile.

[Voice]

[prettymorlock]

I think I might plant something in the garden I'm already working on. I really like that idea.

And yeah, I try to remember that one a lot. The smile and not cry thing.

[Voice]

[prettymorlock]

That's an idea. Do you still have the altar up?

[Voice]

[prettymorlock]

That would definitely make it easier to keep up then.

[microwavemutant]

You could buy some flowers and keep put them in your room. Or maybe we could get some from a nursery and plant them in the garden, next to Mrs. Guthrie's plants. That would be a nice way to remember.

[prettymorlock]

I think I'm going to do the plant in the garden option. As long as the plants that I pick won't kill the garden.

[microwavemutant]

I'm sure you'll do just fine, Sally. And if you need any help with it, I'm more than happy to lend you a hand. Or if you need someone to water them, I'm good for that, too.

[prettymorlock]

Thanks, Angelica. I can always use a hand with the garden.

[voice] with actually legitimate advice

[fangsmile]

In the west, people who are religious go to a place of worship and light a candle or write a scroll or something. In Japan, peasants used to carve their loved ones' names into vegetables and make them into food offerings for the dead.

And in the ancient world, we believed the dead could exist, if somewhat miserably, in the underworld for as long as someone was still living who remembered them and gave them offerings and prayers. Once the world forgot about you, you underwent a second death, and you just stopped existing altogether. Way worse than first death. That's what all those huge burial tombs and monuments were all about. People wanted to achieve immortality through fame. You wouldn't stop existing if no one was allowed to forget about you.

That's a little history lesson, Darlin. A gift from me to you.

[voice] stop messing with her head

[prettymorlock]

Uh...thanks.

[She has no clue what to say.]

[voice] maybe if he keeps poking her she'll throw more free stuff at his head

[fangsmile]

Hey, you know me. I'm here to help.

Oh and more good news: I'm literally here to help.

[Switch to video and you can see the view from the window of a shitty hotel downtown in the City.]

[voice] she'd love to throw a punch at his head

[prettymorlock]

[She's sticking to voice]

Oh joy.

I've got enough people to help me, thanks.