We went to Martin’s and got a buy one get one special on roses. We went to the cemetery and I unwrapped the package of 3 red roses and gave them to Nathaniel. He insisted on moving the Father’s Day Stone and putting the roses where it had been.
He’s a little particular about certain things- did I mention he reminds me of his father?
I explained to Nathaniel what was going on in Colorado and why we couldn’t be there. I told him that I’d asked if we could get some financial help earlier this year, but it hadn’t been granted. I told him how we have to be responsible with money (we don’t have Daddy to bring in his nice income anymore). I told him about all of the heroes who lost their lives on 9-11-01.
I gave a salute to the heavens for John.
I told John that I was sorry I wasn’t in Colorado and I felt like I was letting him down but that I loved him. I told John that every day I love, honor, and remember him.
In a tradition that I’ve started… whenever we get cut flowers for the cemetery, we bring some home as well. If we get a plant, it stays at the cemetery for a short duration and then comes home to get planted.
Sunday, we drove by the cemetery. Surprisingly, the roses were just as red and beautiful as they had been on Saturday. It had been dry and warm on Saturday and I had expected that they would have been wilted. It’s been parched here and very, very dry- I hadn’t expected the rain that came in overnight. The roses were covered with raindrops, which to me seemed like teardrops. Perhaps, John also is sad that a widow can’t afford to attend a memorial service honoring her husband. Maybe he was moved by his son’s presentation. Then again, maybe they were just raindrops.
Rainbows & Mourning Doves 