Afterlife

Yesterday, while driving in a car with my sister, Ruby asked what makes someone die. I tried to explain the need for a heart to pump blood to all your organs and a brain that work so you can think and feel. This lead to a conversation about what it's like after you die, and it's pretty complex territory - especially for someone (like me) who is not religious. It's especially difficult when you have someone like Cecilia in the car who is not satisfied with answers that start with, "Some people believe that..." She will ALWAYS stop you and ask, "Is that what YOU believe?" Oy.

In an effort to explain what I believe, I talked about how little I know, and focused on what I hope. I hope I get to see my grandpa again someday because I'd give anything to have one more conversation with him. But until I find out, I have to keep him alive in my heart and with all the happy memories I have - and someone can never leave you for good if you keep them alive in your heart. And Ruby wanted to know if your heart can get all filled up so there is no room left, but I assured her that your heart has an endless capacity to love, so there is no danger of that.

It was a deep, serious conversation and I found myself getting a little choked up talking about my grandpa (my sister may have, too). And then, because children are perfect and wonderful, the girls each asked a question at the exact same time:

Ruby: Is being dead like The Corpse Bride?

Cecilia: How do you spell "through?"