Mom, you would have loved Thanksgiving. Dad and his girls (i.e., your daughters and granddaughters) worked together to create YOUR Thanksgiving dinner. The table setting was beautiful and each place setting had a picture of you. Your beautiful face helped us get through the day. You would have loved how many people came. I think we had 23 people at our table.
Dad came over to help me celebrate my birthday. Timmy sang Neil Diamond for us and even dedicated a song to you. There wasn't a dry eye in the room after he was done singing. I fortunately kept your voice mail from September when you and Dad called to sing Happy Birthday to me (4 months early), since the song was now in public domain. Each year you and Dad will continue to serenade me with your voices. Heather also gave me a silver ornament. She is carrying on your beautiful tradition with me. I wish you could have seen them this year on the mantle and hanging from the kitchen chandelier.
For Christmas, Lauren and her girls helped to decorate and undecorate your house. We had several new friends join us for dinner this year. We broke tradition and had a table full of amazing appetizers ranging from bacon wrapped scallops, meat balls, chicken tenders, brie, fruit, and more food than 24 guests could eat. Prue and her fiancé were here from Australia. I know how much you were looking forward to seeing her again. The moment she walked into your house, she smiled with so many childhood memories of playing with Heather at her grandma's house.
To celebrate your birthday on January 7th, Dad took Lauren and me to your favorite restaurant L’Auberge Chez François. The dinner was amazing. It is no wonder why you and Dad love this place. We sat at a table near the fireplace and shared stories. I wore a necklace with a picture of us and had a Cosmopolitan for you. The waiter heard we were celebrating your birthday and at the end they brought out complimentary champagne and a meringue dessert with a candle. You would have loved it.
I know you are wondering about Dad. Dad is amazing. A day hasn't gone by that we don't share a memory about you. We laugh, we cry, we reminisce. He is doing as well as can be expected. I know I don't need to tell you this, but he is sad and misses his best friend. How could he not miss you? 62 years of marriage in addition to years of dating. He is so thankful for the years that the two of you shared after his retirement. Dad misses your beautiful smile, he misses your cooking, he misses your wit and humor, he misses having someone to watch TV with, he misses your incredible memory, he misses your intelligent mind, and he misses you. He misses hearing that phone ring and hearing your laughter as you talk to your friends and family.
As for Heather's health - she is doing so much better. She has an amazing team of doctors. Her neuropathy is a bit worse in the cold weather, but that is expected. You would be so proud of how well she is moving forward with her life and not letting her disease define who she is. Heather is being strong for me and I am trying to be strong for her. I am so thankful for all that you did for Heather and how close she was with you. What a blessing that she living at home and able to be there for you during your hospital stay and last days. I am constantly in awe of her strength and compassion. You had a lot to do with the compassionate and loving person that she is today,
As for me, I'm doing OK. I talk to Dad each day, just like I did with you. I cherish these phone calls in the same way I cherished my phone calls with you. I am now able to walk into a store or go shopping without crying. I have no idea why stores made me so sad. Maybe because I wanted to buy you a gift or I remembered the joy that you had buying gifts for others. I never know when the tears will flow. As I said before, I have good days, then for no reason at all, I just miss you so much.
Driving home from work is sometimes difficult. It is always my time to think and I ALWAYS called you on my way home from work. Crying and driving isn't the best combination - but I made it. I am sure the people stuck in traffic next me wondered why this lady was sobbing uncontrollably at stop lights.
I love you Mom.
xo
Lisa
