Rememberance

Dear Sydney,

How do you remember someone you have loved and lost?

You do things they would have liked and things that bring you comfort.  That's how we remember Uncle James.

For Aunt Rachel and Will, that includes bringing some of Uncle James' favorite things to the graveside.

For your Gram, that includes bringing flowers, yellow roses, possibly like the ones that grow on the rose bush outside of her house.

For me and Aunt Rachel and some others, it includes sending balloons into the sky in a symbolic gesture of your uncle's spirit going to heaven.

For all of us, it was sharing a family meal at a Mexican food restaurant since your uncle loved Mexican food so much.

For your dad and Uncle Jonathan, for Will and for Gram also, it included going to an Army surplus store to look at things that Uncle James would have used, would have thought were neat.

 

 

 

These are the things we did to make ourselves feel better about losing Uncle James.  Did any of them work?  Not really.  But it's what people do when they grieve.  They do the best they can.

The only regret I had about the day was that Grandpa and Nana couldn't make it in until later.  Your dad and Uncle Jon went to pick them up from the airport after the Army Surplus store which I took you and your brother, Will and your dad's cousin Nathan to mall to fill the time.

 

 

What an up and down day... from the somberness of the graveside to the jubilation of seeing your Grandpa and Nana again.

I should have taken the time to tell you what a trooper you were that day.

Maybe that was your way of doing something Uncle James would have liked... making the day easier on those closest to him.  I know he would have appreciated it.  And I know that the cheesecake you shared with me at the Cheesecake Factory for "dinner" brought you (and me) plenty of comfort to end the day.

Love,

Mom