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Permalink Reply by Amanda Ab on September 25, 2011 at 5:11pm

Rosie, so nice you did that for your son, in his honor. I know it must it been difficult but main purpose was for him. I bet he was smiling from up above.

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Permalink Reply by Rosie Fletcher on September 25, 2011 at 5:21pm

Thank you.  Yes, it was very difficult.  But I felt his presence most of that evening.  A couple of days after his birthday, then I grieved, I cried until no more tears came.  I'm still grieving because now, it's fall and that brings memories and another reminder that he's gone.  It's so hard, for all of us that have lost a loved one.  I just take it one day at a time.  Some days are worst than others.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Delina Johnson on September 26, 2011 at 10:28pm

beautiful. i was thinking of celebrating my best friend's birthday in December. She died July 5th, and her birthday is just aver 6 months of her passing, December 11th, she would have been 39. I miss her. I think i'll just make her a cake, and sing her happy birthday. Watch her favorite christmas story and know that's enough to make her happy in my heart.

 

Thanks for posting your beautiful and very moving story.

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Permalink Reply by Rosie Fletcher on September 27, 2011 at 7:15am

Anne, I think that is a wonderful way to remember your friend's birthday.  Was her favorite christmas story the one called 'It's a wonderful life'?  I love that movie.  Christmas just isn't the same until I watch that movie at least once.  When a bell rings, it means an angel got their wings.  Love that story.  Thanks for sharing too. 

 

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Permalink Reply by Patricia J. Jones on October 5, 2011 at 2:13pm

My husband passed away 10 months ago and I thought the anniversary and birthdays would be just another day.  Wrong.  How wrong I was.  I went into a deep dark depression on those days.  I was almost ashamed of myself.  I decided instead to honor my husband's life.  My friend and I made a beautiful pictorial dvd - pictures of his life - our lives together with our children and three little grandsons.  It was very comforting and healing.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Some people never find the kind of love we had.  I miss it so much....but I had it.  It was wonderful.  He will always be my husband just as your son will always be your son.  It's easier to wallow in self pity but it's much more beneficial to everyone to celebrate their lives and be thankful for what we had.  God bless you and your family and good for you.  Way to go!!

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Permalink Reply by Rosie Fletcher on October 5, 2011 at 5:06pm

Thanks Patricia!  I'm so glad you did something as well to celebrate your husband's life.  I'm sure it wasn't easy  but it was worth the effort afterwards.  Take care and many blessings to you.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Adams on January 13, 2012 at 12:17pm

Last year for Roxanne's 17th birthday, she hosted a community blood drive. She had asked all her friends and family to honor her birthday that year by donating blood, or donating the money they would have spent on a present for her.  That was April 1st.  She left us just a few short weeks later.

This year for her 18th birthday, I will again host the blood drive.  Many people from our community are stepping up to help make it a HUGE celebration.  We will have carnival games, food vendors, a motorcycle rally, live bands, a silent auction and of course the blood donation buses.  If I can make just a little bit of good come out losing her, then I think I can make it through the day. But I think the hardest part will be like Rosie said, cutting her cake without her there. I was thinking of ending the event with a balloon release, but I like your fire-pit idea Rosie. And it will probably be dark by the time we end the event.  Something to think about.

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Permalink Reply by Shannon Finley on January 16, 2012 at 1:33pm

May 1st of last year I lost my best friend. A little over 3 months after that was his birthday, on August 19. I wasn't sure how I would feel on that day, but I dreaded it's arrival. Once it was his birthday, I was severely depressed. I didn't want to get out of bed, I laid there and asked Nate to come back and get me, to take me with him, because I couldn't do this alone. My boyfriend was terrified to leave me alone that day. He literally forced me to get out of bed, and dress up. We then ended up driving for an hour to the town where we lived when Nate died. We went to the cemetary, and Robby (my boyfriend) held me up while I told Nate happy birthday. After we left there, we went to see our friend, who is also Nate's brother. We all decided that even though Nate wasn't here, we should celebrate. We got a bottle of Nate's favorite tequila, and all hung out and drank, just like we would've if Nate had been there. It was almost normal. We could all feel Nate's presence, and I felt like he was happy that we still celebrated his day. That was the day that I realized, no matter how much pain I'm in over his loss, I still have to celebrate his life, because without his life, I wouldn't have mine now.

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