Kitty & Prince Are With Us

In addition to Kitty, I have six biological grandchildren and one bonus step-granddaughter.  They range in age from 6 months to 11 years of age.  All - aside from the 6-month-old Basher - are very aware of death.  We talk about Kitty and that she is now in Heaven.  We will not see her again in our lifetimes, but she lives on in our hearts.  She is always with us.

My kids and grandchildren all live in Minnesota, specifically in the twin cities metro area, neighboring cities and surrounding communities where we mourn our purple Prince.  The first weekend after Prince died, the weather was rainy.  I waited until the second weekend to visit Paisley Park.

e drive to Mandy's house takes us past Prince's home and studio.  The complex sits just off the highway, clearly visible from the road.  Mandy and her family had stopped earlier in the week, but decided to go again and to meet us there.

I needed to see the memorial that continues to grow.  I wanted to read the messages, see the tokens of remembrance and the artwork being created onsite.

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 Something inside me wanted to share in this collective expression of grief.  At one point, I stopped to look more closely at one of the memorials.  A middle-aged man walked past, smiled and said to me, "Prince is not dead ...  pause ... he lives in our hearts."  

Is that why I felt the nagging urge to visit this growing tribute?  Was this why I wanted to spend time reading and gazing at the beautiful mementos from mourners?  Is this man who spread his message the reason I went when I did and stopped where I did among the thousands of people?  I believe I needed - and was provided -  that reinforcement ... our loved ones remain with us in our memories ... we will always love them ... they are imprinted on our hearts, always with us. 

Last weekend, Belle was spending the weekend at grandma and grandpa's house.  I picked her up at school and as we drove past Prince's home, I asked her if she understood why people were decorating the fence with flowers, balloons and gifts.  Very to the point, she replied, "Yes.  Prince died.  He was 57 years old."  Later in the conversation she said that she thought he died because "he wore high heels too much."  So adult, realistic, mature ... and then that final musing ... it made me chuckle. 

Our family talks about the reality of death - the whys and hows and what it means to those of us left behind.  I am open and honest with my grandchildren about losing Kitty - on an age-appropriate level, of course. 

I am glad that my precious little grands are being raised with a sense of reality, yet know that Kitty is not dead ... she truly lives on in our hearts.