Before 2007 today represented a day that always made me think of my dad. As a WWII vet he was adamant about making sure people remembered the importance of December 7th.
However, December 7, 2007 changed all that. Sure, I still think of Pearl Harbor and my dad but now I think about my oldest niece and how she lost her life five years ago today.
There is something clearly off balance and wrong about losing a loved one who was too young to die. There will always be a hole and a vacancy in our family's life nowadays that can never be filled.
What makes me sad is to think of what will never be...and how different it all would have been if she were still alive.
It makes me sad that we weren't invited to her twins birthday party for the second year in a row. If Carrie were still alive we would have been included in their birthday celebration. I get that it makes the list longer with the five of us but in turn we miss out on sharing a part of my niece and seeing her through her children. There isn't much I can do to change this, but it makes me sad nonetheless. And, her children will not really know who any of us are outside of an occasional sighting on Thanksgiving or Easter.
I miss you, Carrie and all you would have continued to bring to our entire family if you were still here. The void is palatable. It just isn't the same without you.
And, dad...I promise we won't ever forget the brave Americans who fought during WWII.
However, December 7, 2007 changed all that. Sure, I still think of Pearl Harbor and my dad but now I think about my oldest niece and how she lost her life five years ago today.
There is something clearly off balance and wrong about losing a loved one who was too young to die. There will always be a hole and a vacancy in our family's life nowadays that can never be filled.
What makes me sad is to think of what will never be...and how different it all would have been if she were still alive.
It makes me sad that we weren't invited to her twins birthday party for the second year in a row. If Carrie were still alive we would have been included in their birthday celebration. I get that it makes the list longer with the five of us but in turn we miss out on sharing a part of my niece and seeing her through her children. There isn't much I can do to change this, but it makes me sad nonetheless. And, her children will not really know who any of us are outside of an occasional sighting on Thanksgiving or Easter.
I miss you, Carrie and all you would have continued to bring to our entire family if you were still here. The void is palatable. It just isn't the same without you.
And, dad...I promise we won't ever forget the brave Americans who fought during WWII.
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