In Remembrance
Hi, Mom,
Another day begins and with it, another year has passed by without you.Sometimes, the time flies by quickly, like the geese in the sky. Other times, it goes slowly, like the lazy streams, creeks and rivers that end up in the lake. Even though I no longer live in the state, thoughts of Minnesota always find me.
Where I’m living, there’s always a concern for grass fires and wildfires during the dry, summer months and this year, it’s been extremely bad across the region. There’s been a few times where stepping outside meant smelling smoke in the air. After the initial shock and inherent checking for fire in the immediate area to make sure I’m safe, my thoughts drift to memories of growing up. Dad, being a firefighter, sometimes would come straight home in his fire gear and leave his gear on the back porch. You wouldn’t let him in the house with that gear on, so the back porch got to smell like smoke those days and not the whole house.
That smell of smoke also reminds me of the fires in the fireplace at home and the many campfires there were on those family camping-reunion weekends in Alexandria. Roasting marshmallows for smores and just enjoying the heat on those cold, winter nights are just a few of the memories that cross my mind.
I’ll be coming home to visit for a few days - it’s been at least five years since my last visit, I recently realized. I can’t wait to see my nieces (your granddaughters) in person instead of through the few pictures I manage to get from their parents. Hopefully, Dad and I can take the girls out somewhere to make memories of our own for them to have. I’ll spend some time with Dad, too. You know the questions he’ll ask me in that joking tone of voice - ‘Are you staying? Here? When are you leaving?’ - just like he’s done to me since I left for college. We’ll have a laugh and reminisce about you rolling your eyes at Dad and reminding him to be nice to his daughter.
It’s a Friday, so my commute home is already longer than usual. It’s also the Labor Day holiday weekend, so that will add even more time to what’s already a lengthy drive. Even so, I plan to stop off for some fresh-cut flowers to have around my place, just as I used to bring some home to you. I’ll listen to the music of the Beach Boys, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, and Peter, Paul & Mary that you liked while stuck in traffic, remembering the family vacations and the concerts you enjoyed. I’ll spend the weekend working the sewing machine to make doll clothes for your granddaughters, something I know you would be doing if you were here. Most of all, I’ll be thinking of you.
I love you, Mom, and I will always miss you.
Link to last year’s letter: https://marauderswolf.livejournal.com/149483.html
Another day begins and with it, another year has passed by without you.Sometimes, the time flies by quickly, like the geese in the sky. Other times, it goes slowly, like the lazy streams, creeks and rivers that end up in the lake. Even though I no longer live in the state, thoughts of Minnesota always find me.
Where I’m living, there’s always a concern for grass fires and wildfires during the dry, summer months and this year, it’s been extremely bad across the region. There’s been a few times where stepping outside meant smelling smoke in the air. After the initial shock and inherent checking for fire in the immediate area to make sure I’m safe, my thoughts drift to memories of growing up. Dad, being a firefighter, sometimes would come straight home in his fire gear and leave his gear on the back porch. You wouldn’t let him in the house with that gear on, so the back porch got to smell like smoke those days and not the whole house.
That smell of smoke also reminds me of the fires in the fireplace at home and the many campfires there were on those family camping-reunion weekends in Alexandria. Roasting marshmallows for smores and just enjoying the heat on those cold, winter nights are just a few of the memories that cross my mind.
I’ll be coming home to visit for a few days - it’s been at least five years since my last visit, I recently realized. I can’t wait to see my nieces (your granddaughters) in person instead of through the few pictures I manage to get from their parents. Hopefully, Dad and I can take the girls out somewhere to make memories of our own for them to have. I’ll spend some time with Dad, too. You know the questions he’ll ask me in that joking tone of voice - ‘Are you staying? Here? When are you leaving?’ - just like he’s done to me since I left for college. We’ll have a laugh and reminisce about you rolling your eyes at Dad and reminding him to be nice to his daughter.
It’s a Friday, so my commute home is already longer than usual. It’s also the Labor Day holiday weekend, so that will add even more time to what’s already a lengthy drive. Even so, I plan to stop off for some fresh-cut flowers to have around my place, just as I used to bring some home to you. I’ll listen to the music of the Beach Boys, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, and Peter, Paul & Mary that you liked while stuck in traffic, remembering the family vacations and the concerts you enjoyed. I’ll spend the weekend working the sewing machine to make doll clothes for your granddaughters, something I know you would be doing if you were here. Most of all, I’ll be thinking of you.
I love you, Mom, and I will always miss you.
Link to last year’s letter: https://marauderswolf.livejournal.com/149483.html