Dear Aaron,
It was a year ago that we lost our only daughter, Michelle, in an accident…and for anyone that has lost a loved one; I think that most people experience the loss, the touch, their voice, and the feeling of not having them by your side, creates much sadness and lonliness while we try to overcome the pain and day-to-day hurdles without them beside us. My family struggles each day, but we’ve tried to do a couple of things that help provide comfort to us; first, we planted a beautiful dogwood tree near the driveway where Michelle parked her car, the dogwood tree was one of her favorite trees, I also strongly believe that the “Christmas Tree” was one of her favorites too. Michelle always said that when she would drive into our subdivision in the Spring, “to see the splash of dogwood trees was like looking at something an artist had painted.” Once we got the soil ready for planting this tree, we went into Michelle’s bedroom and found a few trinkets and treasures that she had, and we placed the items in the hole before planting the tree. Now we decorate the tree with beautiful white lights, balloons, flowers and once-in-awhile when we wake up in the morning and walk out to the tree with our coffee and tissues in hand, we find that neighbors and friends have placed items there also. We often go outside and sit by the dogwood, and although we cry, it really feels comforting to be at that spot…You should try to think of a way to memorialize your grandfather. If you would follow the tree idea, you could put a couple of the fishing lures into the hole or even decorate the tree in a fishing theme…Unfortunately, life on earth can be taken away at anytime and regardless of your loss and sense of lonliness, your grandfather is really still with you. Probably the perfect gift that your grandfather would like to see, is that you and your father spend time together. Each day will become easier, but what a perfect time to bond with your father and help him through his grief and sadness too.
See ya.