This is a tough day for my brother and sister-in-law and for our whole family. A majorly tough day in a long line of tough days.
To ease this and other difficult days, I think about wonderful times with Anna. The happiest of times I recall are the ones she spent with my boys. The three of them had such fun together. Even with the age differences, Anna always played with them and made sure to squeeze out every ounce of fun she could have with them. I want to preserve all those fun times in my mind and in my boys' minds.
I recently wrote about where I Am From. That exercise gave me the idea of writing down the boys' memories of Anna. Could I look through their eyes, gather up all those moments in time and capture a snapshot of who she was in my boys' minds and lives? Remembering where she was from for their perspective may be one way to preserve the essence of Cousin Anna and all that we miss.
She Is From...
She is from belly laughs and banister kisses.
From Georgia pine straw clutched in baby fat hands.
She is from big brown eyes that see family first.
She is from the far-flung worlds of Coral Springs, Marietta, Naperville, Roswell, Stamford, Moscow, Bristol, St. Charles, Heaven.
She is from countless Hard Rock t-shirts, each one a visit to a new city with a passport stamp to match.
She is from Crazy Frog and back seat giggle sessions.
She is from a little snack o' brownie and creeper face.
She is from iPhotos captured with her outstretched arm.
She is from lean in and smile!
She is from Sticky Lizard and Sticky Chicken, tucked secretly in a suitcase for a sneaky surprise when you get back home.
She is from joint letters to Santa on Christmas Eve and
shared surprises Christmas morning.
She is from River Rat and yellow tubes rule!
She is from The Back Porch, Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts.
She is from Evergreen.
She is from joint letters to Santa on Christmas Eve and
shared surprises Christmas morning.
She is from River Rat and yellow tubes rule!
She is from The Back Porch, Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts.
She is from Evergreen.
From the hot tub, the upstairs bedroom and Playstation battles.
She is from rides through the Cove, picnics, deer counts and bear sightings.
She is my partner in Forced Family Fun.
She is from every trip to Townsend, every curve in the road, every peak of the hills, every misty wisp on the mountains.
She is tethered to me, running in the rain, saving me from the big storm.
She is from hugs that are real
and hopes that are pure
and love for me that never ends.
and hopes that are pure
and love for me that never ends.
She is my Anna.
Aw. This brought tears to my eyes. Even though I didn't have the good fortune to know her, I feel like I did through your family. Thinking about all of you today, but especially your brother & SIL.
ReplyDeleteSo much to love about this post.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote a wonderful tribute to Anna. Beautifully written.
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