When I was only ten years old, my dad unexpectedly passed away, and I have been grieving ever since. In addition to being entwined with my best memories of him, it’s a hurt that never fully heals. A singing teddy bear, a quirky memento of the love and joy he brought into my life, was one of his very last gifts to me. Over the years, I kept that bear near to my heart, and when my own kid turned seven, I felt it was appropriate to give it to him as a means to bridge the past and present.
We discovered we needed to add batteries to make the teddy bear come back to life, and I was thrilled to see my son appreciate it as much as I did. I felt a rush of nostalgia as I opened the bear’s back, but that soon gave way to shock when I discovered something very unexpected: a little cassette tape nestled close to the battery box. It was a weird, emotionally charged event that left me numb. Was that what I believed it to be?
I located a cassette recorder and hit play with shaking hands. I felt shivers down my spine as soon as his voice was heard. I hadn’t heard my dad’s voice in twenty years, yet it was clearly his, and it seemed like no time had passed. He read my favorite stories, told me amusing incidents that only he could tell, and gave me wise counsel for the future self on the tape. I felt the warmth of his affection wrap me again as I listened, taking me back to my early years.
I was really impressed by the way he ended the recording. In a really touching moment, he told me straight out how much he would miss knowing my kids.
The beauty of this unanticipated connection overwhelmed me, and I knew exactly what I needed to do. I gave my son the cassette, and I felt a mixture of happiness and sadness as I saw his eyes brighten as he heard his grandfather’s voice. The cassette has grown to be my most cherished item, a physical reminder of a man who was so important in my life and who, in spite of everything, managed to connect with my son.
It’s incredible to consider that such a unique occasion had been kept secret for so long, and it’s even more shocking to discover that my mother was unaware of it.As we listen together, it feels as though my dad is still with us, offering guidance and love from beyond, and I can’t help but feel grateful for the unexpected gift that transcends even death.