Saturday, December 3, 2011

Dominic


Thursday night I sent a friend to heaven for you, but you already knew that, you sent a rainbow into my back yard to let me know you were waiting to welcome him to heaven with you. Thank you for that, it comforted us all. 
I remember when you were starting to feel pretty sick I brought him with me one Sunday. Mom had told me you were having trouble following and remembering conversations. When he came into the living room with me you were on the computer and you looked at him and smiled and petted him and he licked you and rubbed on you, like always. You asked me how he was and I said “he has cancer, but he’s doing alright” and you said, “I know he has cancer, that’s how come I asked how he was” later on, at dinner, you looked at Mom and said, ”you know he has cancer” and gestured to him and rolled your eyes and shook your head in disgust, like you always did when you disapproved of something that was happening. Needless to say, we were all pretty surprised…but you always did love him and he really loved you. He always loved coming to your house, he loved hanging out on the deck and roaming the yard with the kids. I have a great picture of him getting a bath in the back yard after rolling in something super gross in the yard. I will never forget the time I left him at the house to go get something and he chased some kids away from the house while Mom screamed after him- your house was home to him too, and you were family too. So now, be sure he’s with you up there, please, keep him for me until I get there too. He’s a great protector, so if anything negative tries to come your way- trust me- he won’t let it happen. He’s whatever you need him to be- a friend, guardian, playmate, confident, whatever you need whenever you need it, so hold him close for me okay? And tell him thank you, I know he wanted to go the week after you did, but he held strong and made himself feel better, hid his struggles and was strong for me until at least a couple days went by without me totally breaking down and he was certain his son could try to step in and shoulder his share of the burden of taking care of me. I am glad he has a friendly face up there, someone to love him until I am back with you both again, and when you come check on us-which I know is often- bring him with you, please, let him travel with you- he’s the perfect forever friend.  Another hole in my life….my heart and soul crushed again…..but now, at least when I think of both of you, I can know you have good company and I can be certain you both are waiting together for us.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

EJMISSU

....is the personalized license plate I saw driving back to work from lunch today. I was behind the car for a couple miles and couldn't figure out why I kept looking back at it, then it hit me. Duh! It's those stupid small things. So...EJ...I do miss you <3

Veronica

Sunday, November 20, 2011

I get it

This morning I got on Facebook and the first thing I saw was a post from one of my friends that simply said "Amazing grace how sweet the sound". I found this ironic after the "You are my sunshine" story from Friday. It crossed my mind that this was you again confirming you were there watching us the whole time, and still are- but I told myself not to be that person that reads into every little thing. I mean, the "You are my sunshine" was too weird to not be you but "Amazing grace" is a pretty popular spiritual song and my friend is a Christian, so I sort of dismissed it- not all the way- but mostly. We then went to church. I should mention that this morning would traditionally be a morning that Andrew would influence us not to go- he worked all night last night and only had 2 hours of sleep before he had to be up and ready. Normally this would result in us skipping morning worship because he couldn't get up and be awake enough to go- but not this morning- to my pleasant surprise he jumped up, showered and was ready before me, so off we went. We got the kids settled into their Sunday school rooms and were walking in as the church sang the first song. I set my purse on the pew, took a sip of my water and I am hearing the song leader talking about how this is her favorite song and she is so excited for us to sing it this morning because it has so much meaning to us as Christians, because "we all know truly, Lord,  How Great Thou Art" I gasped audibly and literally broke down with my head in my hands. I get it....you see us....you know everything we did and everything we are doing. I am shaking as I am typing this because I still can't believe it! I couldn't sing, and I am sorry for that. At your funeral I remember Mom turning around and gesutring for me to sing out and I am glad she did- it helped me share my gift with everyone there and will always be one of the most special memories about that experience- that and singing Amazing Grace at the cemetary. So I get it..I really do, but please don't stop- it keeps me going and eases my broken heart just a little, and I will try to sing for you next time.  I love you, thank you for those gifts for us.

Victoria

Friday, November 18, 2011

Today

Well I got thru the last few days o.k. I was able to relay a funny story about you last Wednesday.  I went to the doctor to get on replacement hormones (yes I am officially in menopause..no periods, night sweats..really I can't believe this is happening to me!).  So...the doctor asked what other factors do I think I may be in menopause?  I tell him that I had heard you could use your mother 's age when she entered menopause as a gage when you would most likely also--which he replies "exactly".  So...I tell him when my brother was around 17 or 18..one Saturday he informed my mother he was going to first fix his motorcycle  then cut the grass..her response was to throw his clothes on the lawn and kick him out of the house--so I'm guessing that is when my mom was in menopause (deducing around age 48 like I am right now).  He starting cracking up.

Switching subjects...I watched a documentary tonite "How to die in Oregon" where assisted suicide is legal.  It follows a woman thru her diagnosis of liver cancer (she was 54) to her utilizing the option of basically taking a doctor prescribed dosage of 100 capsules of Seconal to overedose.  So at the very end she is there with her husband and two grown children. They decide to all sing a song together.  They sing "You are my sunshine".   Need I say more.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

What the hell?!

It's already been a month.  I can't believe it.  I miss you everyday!  Look at my FB status, you'll see how much the rest of this year is going to suck.  Thanksgiving, your birthday, Christmas - ugh!  I don't really talk about how much I miss you and how losing you has affected me, cause quite honestly, I'm not sure I fully grasp it yet.  Part of me feels bad cause there are a lot of times I don't feel grief - but I know it's there.  I express it to myself and 99% of the time pretty privately.  I hate that it hits me in the least expected ways and places.  I saw a woman in a wheelchair Sunday at church and lost it.  I was watching a TV show with Kevin last night and two of the characters were talking about losing grandparents and I held it together no problem.  I don't get it!  I do get that is part of it though.  I realized today I haven't been back to your "cript" - P.S. I hate that word - and I really want to, need to.  In some small way maybe it'll make it feel more real, I'm not sure.  Probably not.  I love you more than you'll ever know and dread not seeing you in your chair when I get to the house.  It's a crushing site when I look in there and you're not there.  Watch over us this holiday season and ease some of the pain.

Love always,
Veronica

Monday, November 14, 2011

Happy Anniversary

At dinner yesterday, we were talking to Papa and he reminded us that today is your 61st anniversary. The pain on his face was so visible, and we spent just a second talking about how the little things make us cry everyday when we remember you aren't here, then I don't think we could handle it anymore, it was a short discussion. 61 years....you were kids....I think about how much I am hurting all the time, this reminded me of how much he is hurting too.

I hurt so bad....your abscence is so raw. I will be so glad for us all to be together on Thanksgiving, but if I am being honest, I am dreading it....Veronica wants us to have no tears on Thanksgiving. I am sure she is right..we need to enjoy the day...I don't know how to. Everything reminds me of you, I have to hide my tears from the girls so many times a day...but especially today. It's the worst day I have had since I came home from being there the week you left us. I sobbed for hours today...like Aunt Val, I don't have anything to add that will make anyone smile today. Sorry. Today I feel bitter and cheated. This is supposed to be a place for us to be honest, to be able to reflect on the good and the bad, today is just bad. I miss you so much, I can hardly breathe. I think about telling you I love you, and I hear your voice say, "Oh, I love you too, darling"...will there come a time when I can't remember the sound of your voice? Oh God, I hope not....

When I am in a better place, I am going to post some things from that week you left us, things that happened that let us know you were still with us that I don't want to forget, I am not ready to do that yet. This was a rambling of thoughts, not very put together, not very me, well, not the me I usually put out there, but I am trying to stay true to the purpose of this space, and this is what came out today. All my love.

Victoria

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sunday Nights

Sunday Nights are the hardest..I don't know why they just are.  I don't have any funny stories right now.  I just hurt.  I miss you Mom. 

Tomorrow is your 61st wedding anniversay.  I'm sure it will be a rough one for Dad. 

You are in my heart.

Val

Saturday, November 12, 2011

A conversation about corn

just a little conversation that happened a few months ago between my dad and nona to make you laugh:

dad: Hey mom, want some corn with dinner?
nona: no corn
dad: are you sure?
nona: yeah I don't want no corn!!
5 minutes later:
dad: are you sure you dont want any corn?!
nana: I DONT WANT NO CORN!
dad: but-
nona: NO!

-Jordan

The Beginning

I got a Harry and David catalog today. My heart jumped and I thought, "YES! that means I am going to be getting a basket from Nona soon, and I love Harry and David baskets, she always sends the great ones!" ....and then I remembered you are gone....

It is the little things like this that have compelled me to start this blog. There are no words to describe what being without you is going to be like...we don't even know yet....but we made it through the first part together, and so here we are, together, your family, and we are going to blog about you. We are going to use this space as a place to remember you. A place where we can come when we need to cry or laugh and a place where we can all share the things that happen to us every day that bring tears to our eyes or put a smile on our face because of you. I love you Nona.

                                                         Victoria