Bye, Pop Monaghan

He came to the house just wishing to have a drink, and sleep. Every member of the family tried to talk to him, but he became incoherent, and everyone thought it just the drink. Lewis told him to lie down and have a rest, which he made him comfortable to do, as he always does. Next day, he did not look good to me, and I wondered how he had fared with the mosquitoes outside through the night. After a days sleep, he was attempted to be roused from sleep, but no-one could rouse him, so an ambulance was called. After many tests, he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

During this phase, Lewis and I were in the garage where he had slept, and a King Parrot (green wings, and red breast) came and sat on the clothes line. When Lewis held up his hand towards the parrot, the parrot (female) flew around his hand, into the shed, and onto a clothes line that was above where pop had laid. Here the bird eye'd the garage, and after half a minute, flew out the same way it had come in.

Lewis recognized the parrot as the totem of Grandmother, and told his wife to go to the hospital immediately, as it was a call from the Dreamtime. During that period, Pop died in hospital, never regaining consciousness. I had been present for the whole thing, including the visit by the Parrot. At the time when pop was just lying there, I did have the feeling that everything had gone pretty fluid in my being and perception, and I balanced out inside of myself at the time, but noted the feeling of fluidity present. That came back to me in hindsight, along with the putting together in my mind around the parrot, and a goori telling me that totems generally came to take people 'home' to the Dreamtime. I witnessed it all, though before he died, had spoken privately to Lewis wife, telling her that perhaps I could bring her dad back, but would he really want that(?) The request never went beyond the suggestion, but these are the accurate facts surrounding the gentle death of a fine warrior and loving husband, and father to a lot of people who truly loved him. No doubt he will be missed, as we only have one father in life, and this he was to children and grandchildren who were proud of him, and he of them.

Having slept in pop's family home, and my being part of the family for the year, has given me insight into the love that flows in the family, and the willingness of pop and his wife to always be there for the grandchildren to come and stay whenever they wished. As we come up to the funeral, I am sure that everyone will agree, that his life had the flow of love always around, and that he will be loved into the Dreamtime, and the forever. Farewell pop, know that you were loved, and were love. I am sure the Bunjalung will turn out for the funeral, and expect to see the largest tribute.

Since his passing, much cleansing has taken place with good rain falls, and thunderstorms throughout the Bunjalung. No doubt he has peered into this theatre already viewing the end of his welcomed life here. Farewell pop...........

Myban