Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Ruminations on 5 Years

May 24, 2007.

5 years today.

How did I get here?

Once upon a time I could not imagine 5 minutes without him let alone 5 years. Yet, today, I am grateful…for his life…for mine…for the ones we shared together.

5 years.

And, I am still standing.

His memory in my soul is as fresh as it was the day we met.

He survived 3 heart attacks only to be taken by the living thing he feared most in this world…

A snake.

He would find a darkly humorous irony in that.

5 years.

I still miss him more than there are words to express.

His own words, written at the death of his cousin/friend almost a year before his own, not found until at least a year after, live with all the other cherished memories of the man who touched my heart:

"Here is my wish for the family ~ Each morning as you look into the mirror may you see him looking back at you, for he is a part of each of you. Each night just as you drift off to sleep may you feel a gentle kiss on your forehead. May you feel his hand on your shoulder urging you on in life until the time he can hold you once again in his arms."

To my Jim…December 3, 1950 ~ May 24, 2002.

I will always love you and I will always miss you…you remain the better part of me.