Remembering Tillman
It’s been a little over a year since Tillman died. There is a cat in our neighborhood who looks a lot like Tillman, and whenever Natalie sees him (or other cats actually) she reminds us that even though it looks like Tillman, it’s not. It amazes me that sometimes months will go by without us talking about Tillman at all, and then when something reminds Natalie about it, she remembers everything.
Natalie petting Tillman’s doppleganger, who Chris’ Aunt jokingly named “Stillman.”
Recently (November maybe?) I overheard Natalie and Clara talking about Tillman.
Clara (looking down the hole in the door to the basement): Where’s your kitty?
Natalie: Tillman “dived” so we can’t see him anymore.
Clara: I think he ran away.
Natalie (very upset by this notion): MOM!! Tillman dived, RIGHT?
Me: Yes, that’s right honey. He died and so we can’t see him anymore. Let’s go play in the playroom!!!
I didn’t really want to explain death to someone else’s child, so I went for the distraction.