One Year ... Let's Reclaim The Day Together

I will apologize right away ... this will probably be more "wandering" than properly written. I am so sorry Kari ... I know the punctuation and sentence structure will be so very lacking. But ... here's some wanderings from me to you all!

"What are you going to do on Thursday?" seemed to be the burning question the past few days. Well, tomorrow I hope to "give back" ...

Doug was a humble man, who left this world way too soon ... way to soon for us, those who loved him most. But Doug left a lasting touch ... and I would guess that was his purpose on this earth. He was one of the most humble men I know. Every invention needed a little "adjustment", the lawn needed a little more trimming, the next project was "almost" good enough to start. One of his dear friends wrote in his planner that Doug was "successful" ... that was one of the words he wrote on the day Doug died. And it is proof positive one year later ... because so many of you continue to lift us up, carry us through and walk our walk. I think Doug would say that's the measure of someone's success.

So I am going to "give back" tomorrow ... nothing big, nothing wild and crazy ... but here's my plan.

At 8:30 a.m. I plan to pray ... have a little scripture, and pray for peace. Peace in our hearts as we close the chapter on this first year. Peace in our hearts as we find our way out of sorrow into joys yet unknown. Prayer is powerful, I've felt yours for the past year ... so tomorrow, my prayers will be about each of you ... each of us. Because we have to continue to move forward, and with healing comes hope, and with hope comes joy and with joy comes understanding and peace.

At 9:00 I have a meeting at school ... a meeting about a Summer Feeding Program for children ... it's exciting and daunting all at the same time.

At 11 a.m. I'm heading home to pick up Doug's work shoes, head to Dielectric ... they have planned a memorial potluck lunch. He worked there almost as long as we were married ... he has a few "work spouses" down there that I think miss him ... so we will have lunch in memory of Doug.

Then I'm heading home to clean a little, as best as I can. And from 3 p.m. and on it's "game on" ... for anyone who'd like to stop over for a chat, hug, smile, tear, laugh ... I'll be here ... Now, with that said ... don't be leaving me waiting and hanging out alone! If you want to stop in for a hug, a smile, share a memory, or even just a drive by and honk your horn ... Because tomorrow we will all reclaim the day. How?

We will celebrate life ... May 9th of 2012 is the day that took our breath away. But May 9, 2013, it's the day we remember, remember to breathe ... remember ice fishing stands, Bena, MN, Brainerd, MN, cut fingers and almost fainting, puppies all tied up nigh nigh, ducks on the pond, salsa anybody? hold this ok, Mark and Doug playing beer pong for the first time, "we'll show them" after 17 hands of 500 and the men finally winning, bonfires the size of a mountain in the back yard, curve balls that go wrong, boys in clothes baskets flying down the steps, proposing in a parking lot, making out on first dates, painting little girl fingernails, making wood projects, and a thousand other memories.

Tomorrow is day 365 without Doug, without husband, without Daddy, without brother, brother-in-law, friend and buddy ... And we've figured most of it out and he'd be so proud of us all. So tomorrow morning, pause with us around 8:30 or 9 a.m. and after you say a little prayer for me and mine, you and yours ... think of the moment Doug made you laugh. Because that is living ...

Doug lost his dad when he was 25 ... not many people really ever thought about that. And he would say each year, "Well, it's been x amount of years." ... and then he'd say, "Do you remember when ... " So Doug has shown us the way ... the way to be humble, the way to live life in the face of sadness, the way to move forward, the way to "reclaim" the day.

Tomorrow night ... well it's "Holy Thursday" for a lot of men ... but tomorrow night at about 5:30ish p.m. I'm going to order some pizza ... who's in????? I don't promise not to cry, but I do promise to share a giggle or two. Because Doug loved laughter!

I love you Doug ... and you still take my breath away ... rest in peace.

until soon,
vic