Memorial Day Weekend – Thoughts of Loss and Legacy

Memorial Day Weekend –

Thoughts of Loss and Legacy

As I sit at the lake overlooking the glistening water, I can hear the loons sing and the leaves whisper in the breath of the breeze. The cabin, was my parents’ home. Their and pride and joy. They loved every blade of grass, each deck board and shingle. They would reminisce about each tree planted, the hummingbirds as they returned annually to dance in their windows and the eagles that soared overhead. The cabin, their home triggers strong memories for me and my family. My Father has been gone since 2001, but it feels like yesterday I was visiting with him. When I sit in my Father’s recliner or walk on the steps going down to the lake I still feel my Dads presence. I see him working in the sun alongside my brother and his friends positioning each rail road tie, hearing the ting, ting as the sledge hammer hits a post securing the beams. I see them gather to have a beer, gaze at their work and share a joke. I see my mother watching them like hawk, yet preparing food for the boys hard at work knowing they will soon be hungry. It’s been a year and one half since Mom passed, but much longer since she has been able to come to the cabin due to her dementia. I see her various collections throughout the cabin and open the vanity and get a rush of her favorite perfume, “Timeless.” I see her prized ceramic pieces set around the house… a soup tureen on a hutch, a lion by the patio door and visualize her large Christmas tree which she used to store in her closet but now has a new home with my holiday decorations. Each makes me smile, remembering how she loved taking ceramic classes and the times we shared doing it together. I can see her sitting in the livingroom, just absorbing nature and I feel her peacefulness presence. It’s hard to believe we have the cabin for sale. I’ve been coming here for over forty years. It’s large piece of my life, yet I’ve had to accept things have changed. My parents aren’t physically here. I’m pulled at were to be on this Memorial weekend. Here at the cabin were I feel their presence or in town visiting the cemetery. I chose the lake as they would never miss a holiday weekend. As I sit here soaking in all the memories, reliving many exceptional times it made me think what Memorial Day means to me. I know it is meant for our service men and women, but I believe it triggers remarkable moments we have had with all the people in our lives. This is how Memorial Day touches me personally. Although my Father was a Veteran, my Mother was not. Each is equally important to me and I mean no disrespect in any way to those that have served us so well. I want to extend a heartfelt Thank You filled with gratitude to each Veteran who has made such great sacrifices and committed to keeping us safe. Each is a beautiful gift to the world and those you have served.