after a long battle with cancer, gong-gong passed away last thursday. we will miss him.
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explaining death to amelia has been surprisingly easy. i came home, sat her on my lap, and said, "amelia, you know how gong-gong was really sick and was in the hospital? well, he died, and now he's in heaven." amelia responded with the usual, "whhhhhy?" i said, "because he died, and when people die, they go to heaven." she seemed satisfied with this circular answer, circular reasoning being her specialty these days. a couple days later, amelia turned to me at dinner and said, "momma, gong-gong is . . . is died." I said, yes, sweetie, he is, and she gave me a big hug.
