MARCH 7, 2020

Moments

Laughing while flipping through pictures of Jon, recalling some of our favorite memories, at times some moments feel as if none of this had ever happened. Like it was all just a horrific nightmare, he’s not really gone is he? Jon is going to walk through that door at any minute and embrace his wife and boys in a gigantic hug. Right???

No. He won’t. No. He can’t. No. He is gone.

Moment to moment, the paper-thin wire this family walks on teeters from one side to the next. At times slightly favoring one particular side over another. The constant presence of dear friends, family, and news of Watson Nation flying their own brands of support gently coax this sweet family to the bright side. But some moments, in fact many moments, there is no such thing as a bright side.

Despite how absolutely wrecked she feels Megan wants to be involved in every aspect of Jon’s Celebration of Life planning, assuring every facet is representative of Jon. Mid-discussion of layout, timing, and logistics Megan had to steady herself and sit down on the very grass where we are soon to celebrate her husband of 10 years’ passing. Burying her face in her hands, tears slowly escaped the gaps between her fingers. “I’m having a moment here girls.” she barely choked out. Each of us recognizing the gravity of the situation, we sat in silence next to her, each of us breathing one breath at a time alongside her. Like moments do, this moment eventually drifted away but not without a piece of Megan drifting with it. Later that evening we found ourselves sorting through pictures of Jon with his sweet boys. Some of the happiest moments of their lives printed out in high definition, so clear, so vibrant. It seemed like a cruel joke that these pictures were no longer real life but just a moment in time pricelessly captured by Megan, unaware just how treasured they would soon become. Laughs were shared over a few glasses of wine of all the shenanigans Jon and Megan have experienced raising three crazy, rambunctious, sweet little boys but as moments tend to steer towards during these times, this moment quickly turned somber. With all three of her sweet babies safely asleep upstairs, Megan felt comfortable enough to let this moment sink in, sink to a dark place, sink to the depths of her soul letting the tears stream down her face as her entire body heaved in heavy, cathartic sobs. It’s moments like these that, as a friend, I feel completely under qualified. The moments of all-consuming grief this beautiful family is suffering through is something you can never really be prepared for. It’s something you’re only supposed watch on TV. Moments like these are never supposed to happen to your tribe, your friends, your family.

These. Moments. Shouldn’t. Happen!!

Not to them, not to anyone. Daddies should always come home, from work, from business trips, from the hospital. Moments like those the Watson family have had to deal with should NEVER happen. Ever.

But what I can tell you is this; those shitty moments where Megan or her precious boys find it hard to breathe, moments where it all seems too hard, moments where they feel like they can’t go on...we’re going to bring these moments to their feet, we’re going to stand tall next to them, we’re going to be their strength when they can’t find any. Our love and support will be those moments that help them find their way back.

#WatsonNation

#EffSTSS