The two electricians who were working on re-wiring the whole house the same week Anthony died were probably a bit nonplussed at my behaviour in the before-and-after days. At one point I came home and wrote the funeral notice at one of our outside tables and, as there was a deadline for later that day and Ming wasn’t home, I came back into the house and asked the two electricians for feedback.
They were on a coffee break in the kitchen and they didn’t mind at all. So I read them what I had written:
Anthony, you are still here with us – with me, and with Ming. You can be seen in all of the camellias you planted, and heard in the squawking of your guinea fowl. You are inside the taste of salmon mornay, and the aroma of the dairy cows. But you are also not here – stained glass of my soul ….
Okay, so it was at that last sentence that I got stuck with an adjective dilemma. I had wanted to say “my shattered soul” or “my sliced soul” or something like that and J. said it was good but G. said it was a bit much so I took this advice and simply got rid of the adjective and finished it with …
… the king of Paradise Road. Beautiful husband. Beautiful father. We love you, Anthony.
I am so grateful to these two wonderful electricians who not only fixed our power problems but also gave me editorial advice, and comfort, during that horrible week.
jmgoyder 
Comfort can come from the most unexpected quarters, no? So glad these lovely fellows were there in your time of need, Julie…. And your words are lovely….
What a splendid pair, help can come from unexpected quarters.
Sweetly strange how God sends wise counsel through the funniest vehicles making it so we should not overlook or dismiss even the oddest sources!
What wonderful men to spend that time with you and give you that feedback and attention.
Great workmen. There should be more like that.
love how moments of magnitude come from such unexpected quarters…
amazing how unexpected people are there at the exact moment we need them.
Kind men and a beautiful funeral notice. Perfect.
❤ ❤ ❤
Having a rewiring of your house seems a metaphor for where you are and where you are going with this new chapter.
A beautiful piece of writing and good advice from a couple of blokes