Thanksgiving

Mom and dad's anniversary is November 27.  Since she has been gone my dad and I went to the cemetery every Thanksgiving so he could bring her flowers and tell her how much she missed him.  I then brought him home and we had a small holiday meal together.  It was never a happy day, but I had him and that meant everything to me.

This year's Thanksgiving is different.  He is not here.  My husband and I have started a new tradition which we hope to continue.  It takes some of the pain away.

Rain

It rained last  night as I went to work.  I miss my dad telling me to stay home because of the bad weather.  He never got that I couldn't do that.  I never got tired of listening to him saying this.

Test Scores

We found my dad's civil service test results while cleaning out some papers in an old box.  He scored 92.7.  He never went to college.  He hated high school.  But, he was smart.  He earned a good living and took care of his family.

I knew he was very bright.  These test grades just showed what I always knew was true.

Phone Rings

My cell just rang and I did not answer it.  I even took my time going to see who called.

It is not my dad anymore.  Everyone else can wait.

When I Die

When I die I don't want anyone to find clothes with tags in my closets and drawers.  I want my stuff to look used even if it is still new. 

Memories

Going through a box of stuff I brought home from my dad's house.

Came across his high school diploma, certificates of honor from the army, his birth certificate.

Found my mom's junior high school autograph book and high school year book.

Found some school newspaper my mom saved from Morris High School

What to do with all this stuff?  I don't want it but I can't get myself to toss it either.  I can't throw away my parents' lives.

From Beyond The Grave

I brought home lots of papers that needed to be shredded.  I went through the boxes, separating out what needed to be kept and what should be shredded or just tossed.  I found lots of mailing labels that I put in the shred pile yet every day I find a few more.  Today I even found some with my mom's name.  Is this a message from beyond?