I have a few pictures on my desk.. the one I mentioned recently and another one of Mema and Norma. Next to them I have one of the prayer cards from her funeral.. one side has "Footprints" on it and the other side has this:

In Loving Memory of

Frances E. D*****

May 3, 1923-May 22, 2003

I'd like the memory of me
to be a happy one,
I'd like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
of happy times and laughing
times and bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those
who grieve , to dry before the sun.
Of happy memories that I leave
when life is done...

That poem just "fits"

I've also got a rose sitting in front of the two pictures and the prayer card. Its one of the roses from the funeral, it dried out nice. When I first brought it home, JoJo thought it was for him. He was sniffing it and rubbing against it and I thought it was going to be fine until he opened his mouth and went to take a bite of it. I told him he couldn't eat it.. because it was Mema's flower. So its still here, in one piece.

he has showed amazing self control!



I can't say it gets easier every day, but some days are better than others. I try to keep busy most of the time, and when I take the time to stop and think.. which is often.. I try to concentrate on the happy memories.. because really.. all my memories of spending time with her are happy memories.