Today marks one year since we laid my nephew, Khal, to rest. He was a great guy. He was active in the community, in his church and at his job. He was a Marine, a proud Alpha man, a motivational speaker, and he served on the Board of Directors for several organizations. At his funeral last year, the line of people circled down and around the block. Finally, the doors just had to be closed because the people just kept coming and it looked like it would never stop! Over 3000 people filed through and regardless of what you may think, it does the family good to see such an outpouring of love and respect.
He left behind a beautiful wife and two pre-teen children. He died a week before his birthday, two weeks before Fathers' Day, and coming up soon were his 14th wedding anniversary and his daughter's 13th birthday. Milestones missed. It seems like every month there's a first. First Thanksgiving without him, first Christmas, first Valentines' Day, first Mothers' Day...each holiday, and really each day, marks a first. My niece is always quick to acknowledge these firsts...and to remind all of us how much she loves and misses her husband. Her comments on his still-active Facebook page serve as a reminder of the daily struggle that is now her life. With literally hundreds of friends, a demanding job and a supportive family, she still is a very young, grieving widow, learning how to move forward in a new life that was not part of her plan. Tomorrow her daughter is graduating from 8th grade. A big party has been planned, the new dress has been fitted, and her hair's been done. She even got her first pair of contacts. This is so exciting. I wonder how much she will be, and is now, thinking about her dad. I know I am. He should be here.
A video was posted on Facebook today, one that was shown at the funeral. I tried to provide a link, but the best I could come up with was the web address. You can copy and paste it into your browser. It's short, it's funny and it's sweet. He was a serious man with a great sense of humor. Lovable.
http://vimeo.com/43709863
The weather here was tenuous today, at best. I haven't checked the news to see what damage was done, but thank God, we are okay. A friend who lives about 20 miles away reported seeing crews from all the local television stations, as well as the Weather Channel camped out nearby. There's always a storm somewhere. Either the kind that tears off roofs and hurls cows through the sky, or the kind that sends a whirlwind of thoughts through your brain, and leaves a heaviness in your heart. I'm not sure I know the extent of the damage--that may be yet to come, but thank God, we will be okay.
Engagement Party, 1997
I promise to make you laugh again tomorrow! Bettie.
1 comment:
Beautiful.
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