Three years without my pop!

Here's how I celebrate the anniversary:

I slept in a little late - 9:00 am – then I got up made tea and toast with avocado – sat in my rocking chair thinking for a bit – then I put on The Secret Garden theater production CD – Listened to the entire thing – Cried – then I looked at pictures of Dad and me – then I threw on some clothes and grab some stuff – I drove to Riverside, listening to all the special songs that remind me of dad – got a big kids hamburger meal and made my way to Dad’s grave – from there I finished the burger, laugh with Dad about how I never bring him flowers but always bring him a burger and fries – then I set up my chair, blanket, and books and began my special time – I first read the ‘speech’ I gave at Dad’s memorial service – then I read through the Butterfly Kisses book I gave Dad – I had to laugh out loud when I remember just how much Dad and I used to tease each other – what a beautiful thing to remember – his laughter and cute sarcastic responses to mine! Then I read a bit of the journal I’ve been keeping since he died and then wrote my three year current day update – then I wrote in my Angel Catcher book – was beautiful to recognize how much I’ve grown in three years – was also very sad to realized Dad was never going to see me in this new light of so much healing – but I’m sure he’d silently prayed for it for years! Then I read my favorite poem to read there by his body’s last resting place – It was a beautiful day in that garden of bodies! The sky constantly changing from dark clouds to rolling big fluffy clouds to the times the sun would peek out and shine brightly on me to warm me up! From there I got on the freeway and listened to Dean Martin all the way to San Clemente – got to Mom’s house to see her in better spirits than I had anticipated – with much indecision we finally made the choice to eat at the Fisherman’s on the San Clemente Pier – it was a glorious day at the beach! We ran into a cute friend of Chip and Emily’s and then had a cute waiter – who Mom flirted with all night – he loved it! We ordered stake dinners and a bottle of Champagne – we toasted to a great man and then I corrected myself and said ‘To the Greatest Man’! We enjoyed the food, the view, and each other – then we headed home – I said goodbye to Mom and went out for coffee with Allie.

All in all it was a sweet day of remembrance! - V