It was almost 5 1/2 years ago and many details of that day remain fuzzy.
I’ll always regret not standing up to say anything. At the time, there were no words, but still I should have thanked everyone for coming and declared my love for my parents publicly.
Sometimes I’ll hear one of the songs my sister and I so painstakingly selected as the soundtrack for that miserable event on the radio and I’ll smile a bittersweet smile.
I know I’ll never forget all the people that were in attendance. We thought maybe a dozen would show up and instead the chapel was full.
When your family and friends are with you during your worst day you tend to look at them a little differently.
Any disagreement you’ve ever had fades away.
Any time that has lapsed since your last visit doesn’t matter.
You realize how much these people love you, how much you mean to them and how far they will travel to be by your side in your darkest hour.
I was so humbled by each and every one of them. Their presence made that day a little easier.
My ex-husband.
An old boyfriend’s parents, sister, brother-in-law and their children.
My new in-laws, my father-in-law, who less than a month earlier had undergone an eight hour open heart surgery.
College friends.
High school friends.
Co-workers.
My best friends.
It was touching and sweet and I’ll never forget that outpouring of love and joint loss.
Thank God for my people.
Click photo for source.
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sometimes it takes a shit storm to find out who our people really are. That sucks. But to see so many people show up? Makes the shit storm less shitty. Sort of.
This is both heartbreaking and uplifting. I am glad you can remember that time with the feeling that people surrounded you with love and support.
I wish the circumstances to know this truth, that you’re loved and supported, could have been happier. But knowing this, is wonderful.
I’m glad you know how loved and supported you are, though I wish the circumstances were very different.
When really horrible things happen to us, our friends really do shine through. I’m so glad you had wonderful people to surround you and support you during the roughest time of your life. xo
It was an incredibly difficult day and those people that did end up coming to the Memorial Service helped ease that pain of the day a little bit. I was mostly shocked to see your ex husband there and a couple of my friends that I hadn’t even talked to for a long time.
Tonya, you did thank everyone for being there right after the service. The love you have for your mom and dad was made obvious by every decision that you and Leah made. The pictures and the music told the beautiful story of their lives. The minister’s words were thoughtful and meaningful and moving. You were both beyond brave and I know you made your parents proud.
I’m glad you have many people on your side.