Recently I was immersed in memories of loved ones who’ve passed on. So many flashbacks of moments that at the time were tangible, real, and full of life. As I walked through the house with most of the furniture removed, boxes stacked, papers and once-treasured knickknacks scooped into piles, I could still see everything as it used to be. It’s important to remember those we love and the time we had with them—the fun times, the rough patches, the mundane moments.
It’s also important to move on. We have those dear memories, but we also have the loved ones who are still with us. We can remember together, and we will also remember the here and now with those who surround us. The memories don’t have to end. Today’s moments become tomorrow’s memories. Live in your moments, so that when you look in the rearview mirror you can treasure the memories you shared together.
I love you, Grandma and Uncle John. I can’t wait to see you again someday.
Yes, I love you Mom and Uncle John. Uncle John, you were like as my father to me. You and Mom both were always there. It was hard enough to see Mom go, but then to have you go too now was especially hard and I was completely unprepared for that. I wish you had realized and had something done about your foot sooner, but I guess that you just could not see the problem. Sometimes the Lord has plans for us that seem so out of touch, but then you did not have to go to that rehab center again, or an assisted living place, or memory care center, or go through all that recovery time, so God blessed you by taking you to be with Him instead. He has a much better overall plan with streets of gold. We are greatly missing you already, and we will never forget the stories that you and Mom would always talk about. I wanted to make a journal, but that never got done. So, I will rely on memories, precious memories. I will miss going out on Veterans Day to get our free meal together and wearing our Veteran’s caps. Also, watching you play Solitaire on your computer, and seeing you excited about going to watch the Lady Bear’s basketball games. Drives in the countryside that we both loved to do, and sitting on the patio during a thunderstorm with coffee cups in hand and grading the lightning from 5 to 10 scale. When at the house helping to get things together after you passed on, I finally saw that darn fox out back that you and Mom always talked about, and I wondered if you were feeding me a bunch of BS. Well, it was for real. Also, I don’t think you knew, but late at night you have had a whole family of racoons on the carport checking things out on a regular schedule. Goodbye for now Uncle John, and Mom. At least I don’t think there is sibling rivalry in heaven, but if so, the angels are keeping score. With love, John