Narrator

The narrator of "Lament for a Son" writes the book in order to honor his son, Eric, who dies in a mountain climbing accident at the age of twenty-five. He publishes the book in order to give voice to others' mourning. He receives a call on Sunday about Eric's accident. Three seconds of peaceful resignation where he feels that he is offering Eric to someone is followed by a cold, burning pain. The narrator takes Eric for granted during his life and does not realize the great gift of Eric's existence until his son is gone. The narrator does not realize how much he loves Eric until Eric dies. The narrator feels it is wrong to bury one's children since they are supposed to be the future. The narrator flies across the ocean to claim Eric's body in Kufstein. He wonders why Eric climbed the mountain alone, but...