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Present Tense
smobeepj
Posts: 58
I have a sad story to tell about the song Present Tense. Back in June of 2003, my Grandmother was dying of cancer. She was in a place called Hospice where terminnally ill people go and have a peaceful place to pass away.
The last time that I saw her alive, was two days before she died and she was in a coma. I stood there holding her hand and wanted to say something to her for the last time but I just could get any words to come out of my mouth. When she passed away two days later, the pastor suggested to my mom that maybe I could write down memories that I had and write down my goodbyes since I couldn't do it in person.
So I did. I felt really bad about not going to see her very much over the last year and when I started writing to her, I started to hear Present Tense in my head. So I wrote down all of the words in my goodbye letter as a way to ease the pain I was feeling.
At the wake, I let my mom read what I wrote and I figured that would be the last time it would be read, I was wrong. My mother thought the words that I wrote were special so she gave it to the pastor to read. You would not believe what happened next.
During the funeral at the church, the pastor brought me up and how I was unable to speak to my grandmother the last time I saw her and let everyone know what he suggested. Then he read every word I wrote at the funeral, Present Tense and all.
You have no idea what that was liek and it is imposible for me to describe it to you. I saw PJ during the 2003 tour and they played Present Tense 2 or 3 times. The first of which tore me apart.
The last time that I saw her alive, was two days before she died and she was in a coma. I stood there holding her hand and wanted to say something to her for the last time but I just could get any words to come out of my mouth. When she passed away two days later, the pastor suggested to my mom that maybe I could write down memories that I had and write down my goodbyes since I couldn't do it in person.
So I did. I felt really bad about not going to see her very much over the last year and when I started writing to her, I started to hear Present Tense in my head. So I wrote down all of the words in my goodbye letter as a way to ease the pain I was feeling.
At the wake, I let my mom read what I wrote and I figured that would be the last time it would be read, I was wrong. My mother thought the words that I wrote were special so she gave it to the pastor to read. You would not believe what happened next.
During the funeral at the church, the pastor brought me up and how I was unable to speak to my grandmother the last time I saw her and let everyone know what he suggested. Then he read every word I wrote at the funeral, Present Tense and all.
You have no idea what that was liek and it is imposible for me to describe it to you. I saw PJ during the 2003 tour and they played Present Tense 2 or 3 times. The first of which tore me apart.
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sorry for your loss, and you are correct. no one else has any idea what it was like. :(
Isnt it amazing how music can help us through life?
hang in there!
You make me feel uncalm and I think I like it - 311
JEFF ROX MY SOX!
"Jeff is just a badass all the way across the board" ~aNiMaL~
"Chill out Kaddikat"
the lyrics says a lot...
That is why I'm singing
I have a similar story my Grandmother also died of cancer, that was almost 17 years ago. My first baby girl was born right before she passed away, so she got to see her. However, my ex was stationed in Germany so I had to go back there, and wasnt home when she passed on. I always fealt so guilty about it, but later on she came to me in my dreams, and told me everything was ok. Years later as I read the lyrics to Present Tense, it chokes me up thinking about her and how much those words mean. Thank you for sharing your story. I love how music can relate to so many things. And i dont know too many pearl jam lyrics that someone cant relate to.
(Angelina Jolie)
http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=265576