Great ideas here, Bob. I think I will start a new tradition of making the Angel Wings. Thanks for the link! My 3-month-old granddaughter was given my mother’s Polish maiden name for her middle name (it’s a shorter name than a typical Polish name!) and I want her to embrace the beautiful memories I have of my Polish ancestors. My mom was a great cook and baker, but I am not so much. I never attempt to carry on her elaborate kitchen endeavors, but the Angel Wings resonate with me and look easier to do! Thank you!
There is one tradition that my family never fails to replicate and it’s hilarious to us. When I was a child someone sent over a bottle of Chateau La Salle wine for Christmas one year. It was so awful to my folks because it’s rather sickly sweet. As a joke one of them bought it again the following year and on and on. As we kids grew up it became a Christmas staple just for the joke effect. Of course we drank it, but we also had the good stuff to go along with it! A half dozen decades later, it’s only my brother and me left of the original cast of characters, but one of us, or both, will always bring the Chateau La Salle. The younger generation hates it as much as the older generation always did, but at the end of the day, there’s never a drop left in the bottle.
Hi Mary, what a beautiful story and sentiment. I love stuff like that, the Chateau La Salle. It hinges people and the past together without the need for words. In your case, the meaning is so potent that the entire bottle is consumed despite nobody liking it. Thank you for sharing that. Let me know if you make the Angel Wings and how you like them. They are simple yet so delicious.
Dear Bob, Synchronicity.! Although it will be a while before I follow up on great ideas, they will be part of a celebration of my late husband's life. He passed over yesterday morning, so I am still at sixes and sevens emotionally as well as practically. He was in the late stages of Alzheimers when he contracted pheumonia. He went peacefully and I am grateful his discomfort has ended. His was an extraordinary life and he will be sorely missed by many who will, I'm sure, have lovely stories to share when we all get together to swap memories. Thank you for so many good ideas at such an opportune moment. Sending love and light to you, Melissa and your family this Christmas time.
Dearest Sue, I lost my breath reading this. My goodness, I wish I could give you a big comforting hug. If you ever want to write about your husband, what he was like and ways in which his life was extraordinary, I'd love to read about him. I hope you are surrounded by loved ones this Christmas. Please know that both Melissa and I send our love and sympathy. Let me know if I can be of any help to you.
Thank you, dear Bob and Melissa for your loving words. The lady who presided over Leaf's cremation service was called Melissa! She was really gentle and extremely accommodating; the ceremony was beautiful. There were many good people there.
How do I feel now? Very confused actually. In one sense I'm so relieved for Leaf to be through his suffering, in another utterly bereft - a small boat without oars floating on a choppy sea. In time I will find a new path to follow but, for the moment, what has happened has left me feeling incomplete - he brought my life into focus and I like to think I did the same for him. I thank God for the years of happiness I spent with him.
Bob, I find your writings very comforting as well as interesting. Thank you. Love and many blessings to you both. Sue
These are all great ideas & my daughter & son- in- law & I do most of all the things u suggested to remember my son who passed or transitioned 71/2 years ago. This year we got a little off track because last December I became a grandma & this December we celebrated my grandson turning one year old! Coincidently he was born only days apart from my son’s birthday. Anyway, we usually eat my sons favorite meal on his birthday ( chicken parm)& I write him a letter either on his birthday or on his angelversary. I still talk to his picture very often, but on those occasions he gets a letter. I had to laugh when u wrote about the home movies (taken at first w/ that big video camera- we had one too! ) Later, we got a smaller one & then when my son passed, I had those clunky tapes put onto DVD. They take up less room, but are becoming obsolete as well!. But I have them & they r precious to me, & I watch 1 or 2 at least once a year. We never tried the memory jar- that was food for thought. But one thing we started doing was a rock garden. We paint a cute saying or affirmation on a rock specifically for my son Brandon & put them under a tree in my daughter’s backyard. The grief or sorrow isn’t as painful anymore, but at this time of year ( especially being he is a December birthday) I do miss him terribly. And I always will. Happy holidays to u & Melissa.
Hi Shari, thank you for sharing all the meaningful ways that you stay in touch with Brandon. No doubt others will be inspired by you. It really helps to practice these simple exercises. I love the rock garden idea! Melissa is a December birthday too, the 6th. Happy birthday to Brandon. Warmest wishes to you and your family this holiday season, Shari.
Thank you for sharing those loving and warm ideas for staying closer to our deceased loved ones through the holidays and at other times in our lives. I would like to wish you and Melissa a blessed season and new year. Also although I have never met you both I must say that is a beautiful picture of you both and a gorgeous backdrop as well. Many blessings and thank you
Hi Denise, I'm glad you enjoyed the holiday ideas, and thank you for the warm wishes. We had stopped by to see the Mount Washington Hotel and their beautiful holiday display, and were so blown away by the Mountain View, that we decided to try taking a selfie (which we rarely do). Well, we were failing, and a sweet hotel employee stepped out into cold of the outside deck to take that for us. That hotel is gorgeous, by the way. Here's a link to see it: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington Blessings to you.
Great ideas here, Bob. I think I will start a new tradition of making the Angel Wings. Thanks for the link! My 3-month-old granddaughter was given my mother’s Polish maiden name for her middle name (it’s a shorter name than a typical Polish name!) and I want her to embrace the beautiful memories I have of my Polish ancestors. My mom was a great cook and baker, but I am not so much. I never attempt to carry on her elaborate kitchen endeavors, but the Angel Wings resonate with me and look easier to do! Thank you!
There is one tradition that my family never fails to replicate and it’s hilarious to us. When I was a child someone sent over a bottle of Chateau La Salle wine for Christmas one year. It was so awful to my folks because it’s rather sickly sweet. As a joke one of them bought it again the following year and on and on. As we kids grew up it became a Christmas staple just for the joke effect. Of course we drank it, but we also had the good stuff to go along with it! A half dozen decades later, it’s only my brother and me left of the original cast of characters, but one of us, or both, will always bring the Chateau La Salle. The younger generation hates it as much as the older generation always did, but at the end of the day, there’s never a drop left in the bottle.
Hi Mary, what a beautiful story and sentiment. I love stuff like that, the Chateau La Salle. It hinges people and the past together without the need for words. In your case, the meaning is so potent that the entire bottle is consumed despite nobody liking it. Thank you for sharing that. Let me know if you make the Angel Wings and how you like them. They are simple yet so delicious.
Bob, thanks for the heartwarming ideas. They triggered so many nice recollections of family and friends who have moved back. Merry Christmas!
Hey Eugene, I love that phrase, "moved back." Merry Christmas to you!
Dear Bob, Synchronicity.! Although it will be a while before I follow up on great ideas, they will be part of a celebration of my late husband's life. He passed over yesterday morning, so I am still at sixes and sevens emotionally as well as practically. He was in the late stages of Alzheimers when he contracted pheumonia. He went peacefully and I am grateful his discomfort has ended. His was an extraordinary life and he will be sorely missed by many who will, I'm sure, have lovely stories to share when we all get together to swap memories. Thank you for so many good ideas at such an opportune moment. Sending love and light to you, Melissa and your family this Christmas time.
Dearest Sue, I lost my breath reading this. My goodness, I wish I could give you a big comforting hug. If you ever want to write about your husband, what he was like and ways in which his life was extraordinary, I'd love to read about him. I hope you are surrounded by loved ones this Christmas. Please know that both Melissa and I send our love and sympathy. Let me know if I can be of any help to you.
Thank you, dear Bob and Melissa for your loving words. The lady who presided over Leaf's cremation service was called Melissa! She was really gentle and extremely accommodating; the ceremony was beautiful. There were many good people there.
I feature my meeting and living with Leaf in the second volume of my autobiography 'Hanging Onto Hope' which is available through Amazon (reviews on the UK site) and https://www.feedaread.com/books/Biography-and-Autobiography/?P=7 (page 7)
How do I feel now? Very confused actually. In one sense I'm so relieved for Leaf to be through his suffering, in another utterly bereft - a small boat without oars floating on a choppy sea. In time I will find a new path to follow but, for the moment, what has happened has left me feeling incomplete - he brought my life into focus and I like to think I did the same for him. I thank God for the years of happiness I spent with him.
Bob, I find your writings very comforting as well as interesting. Thank you. Love and many blessings to you both. Sue
Hi Bob-
These are all great ideas & my daughter & son- in- law & I do most of all the things u suggested to remember my son who passed or transitioned 71/2 years ago. This year we got a little off track because last December I became a grandma & this December we celebrated my grandson turning one year old! Coincidently he was born only days apart from my son’s birthday. Anyway, we usually eat my sons favorite meal on his birthday ( chicken parm)& I write him a letter either on his birthday or on his angelversary. I still talk to his picture very often, but on those occasions he gets a letter. I had to laugh when u wrote about the home movies (taken at first w/ that big video camera- we had one too! ) Later, we got a smaller one & then when my son passed, I had those clunky tapes put onto DVD. They take up less room, but are becoming obsolete as well!. But I have them & they r precious to me, & I watch 1 or 2 at least once a year. We never tried the memory jar- that was food for thought. But one thing we started doing was a rock garden. We paint a cute saying or affirmation on a rock specifically for my son Brandon & put them under a tree in my daughter’s backyard. The grief or sorrow isn’t as painful anymore, but at this time of year ( especially being he is a December birthday) I do miss him terribly. And I always will. Happy holidays to u & Melissa.
Hi Shari, thank you for sharing all the meaningful ways that you stay in touch with Brandon. No doubt others will be inspired by you. It really helps to practice these simple exercises. I love the rock garden idea! Melissa is a December birthday too, the 6th. Happy birthday to Brandon. Warmest wishes to you and your family this holiday season, Shari.
Thank you for sharing those loving and warm ideas for staying closer to our deceased loved ones through the holidays and at other times in our lives. I would like to wish you and Melissa a blessed season and new year. Also although I have never met you both I must say that is a beautiful picture of you both and a gorgeous backdrop as well. Many blessings and thank you
Hi Denise, I'm glad you enjoyed the holiday ideas, and thank you for the warm wishes. We had stopped by to see the Mount Washington Hotel and their beautiful holiday display, and were so blown away by the Mountain View, that we decided to try taking a selfie (which we rarely do). Well, we were failing, and a sweet hotel employee stepped out into cold of the outside deck to take that for us. That hotel is gorgeous, by the way. Here's a link to see it: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington Blessings to you.
Such a heart-warming and inspiring blog! Thank you, Bob :)
Thanks Cheryl! ♥️