To Dad... love Snicklefritz

Dear Dad, 

I'm growing ever more fond of your resting place.  Despite the gray and gloomy day, the colors were all the more brilliant to witness yesterday.  It would have been your 47th wedding anniversary, and mom wanted to come and visit.  She brought a walker for the first time Dad.  Your old walker, that she now needs.  I can just see the smirk on your face as she rolled past you- she is walking in those footsteps you left behind, the ones she used to tease you for.  But she is one determined lady, and that would not surprise you in the slightest.  Oh how we change and stay the same all at once.  

Still, Dad, to this very day, I drive past the house, with your truck sitting outside and my heart still leaps... briefly.  Momentarily I can close my eyes and think of how little the boys were when we lived in that little blue house and how you used to surprise visit us at nap time.  You'd rile the boys up, tickle and play with them for a few minutes, then be on your way, while I sat with whirling tornados of energy, sadly in need of a nap- me by that time- worse than them.  

The boys are now at an age where they laugh about how much they loved your old truck and riding in it with you.  They see it more for the old age, the lack of features- or anything flashy.  I now see it as sturdy, dependable, with a few battle scars- but a will to just keep going.  Much like how I remember you Dad.  

Miss you Dad,

Love, 

Your Snicklefritz

Rick and I both have family at this cemetery.  My nephew, Hunter who passed after just 4 short months with us, and now Rick's mom, Carole in the spot just above Hunter.  This was the first time we viewed her marker and I have to say its beautiful.  

My sweet sister-in-law, came to visit Friday night.  Look what she brought me!  

I have oogled Origami Owl for some time now.  It is slowly starting to make its way into our community. 

But what are the chances that Missy would know my heart so well?  

So the necklace is like a locket and inside are magnetized pieces selected by Missy.  There is the pink breast cancer ribbon, a C for Colton, an N for Nolan, a camera and a red heart. There is also an S that baffled us for awhile.  But clearly, the S is for Superman-  how could he be thought of as anything other?  She also had the word "inspire" engraved on the inside of the locket.  Then she wrote a special note giving her reasons for selecting each one.  Then I cried and was moved.  Love that girl.  

I'm heading out for a PET scan today.  The radiation department is working on getting me scheduled for tests and sims before I have treatment to my brain.  

Uff-da... here we go...