Through Sissy's eyes!

Topic: Death

Sissy is obsessed with death.  The wheels in her little head are just a turnin' and burnin' trying to figure it all out.  It is kinda funny to be a spectator on how a 5 year old views the world.  Here is an example of a conversation with Shan about death. We have had this same conversation, with very little deviation, every time we drive by the 

cemetery.  I love to pick her brain, and unlock her thoughts.

Sissy: "Hey Mom, there's that place you go to die."  

Me:  "Oh, really.  Don't you mean when you die, instead of to die?"

Sissy: "No Mom, I mean to die.  I already tell you that eighty fifteen times."

Me:  "Well, how come every time we drive by there, I never see anyone there?"

Sissy:  (rolling eyes here)  "That is because no one is dying today and besides you just don't see them."

Me:  "Oh, my bad, how do you know when you are suppose to go there then? How do you know when you are going to die?"

Sissy:  "You just know when to go; when you get old and crinkly like Granny." (My Granny is the only person that Sissy knows who has passed away. That was in October '06, so it has been a while.  She was 75.  We moved her to Illinois, from Louisiana, to take care of her for the last year and a half of her life.)

Me:  "Let me see if I understand, only old people die?"

Sissy:  (rolling eyes again and frustrated that I am so dumb) "Yes Mom, how many times do I have to tell you? (I wonder where she got that from?) Don't worry though Mom, Dad is gonna die first because he is the oldest in our family; he is like ninety twenty three."

Me:  "So, after Dad, then is it my turn to go there?  How come I have to go next?  What if I don't want to go?"

Sissy:  (after thinking for a few seconds)  "Well, I can't go next because I don't know how to drive!  How am I suppose to get there if I can't drive?"

Me:  "Of course dear, thanks for explaining it to me.  Again.  How silly of me to forget that you can't drive?!" 

I think I will leave the conversation here for a while.  She is only 5, and I will let her rest easy, thinking that all is well in her little world. She doesn't need to know that anyone can die at anytime yet.  I am hoping we all live really long lives together. Bring on the crinkles baby!