Sunday, February 6, 2011
From Jessica
It is one year later and dad is still with me. He has not faded into ghostly memories or a fuzzy outline of a person that used to live here. I can hear myself using his words and phrases in converstation and I can see myself using his mark making in my own work and I can feel myself using his love. Since the last time I saw dad a mess of events has happened; I made it to senior year, turned 18, got his painting tattooed on me, got into college; We got kittens, we redid the house, somehow we made it work as three girls living together. Even though all of these markers further seperate me from the last time I saw my father and that space will only continue to grow, he's still here.
A note from Tasha
On a day as significant as the anniversary of his death, it is hard not to recall memories of my dad.
In particular, I remember performing the daunting task of washing the dishes-alone, I might add. Generously, dad helped out by drying whilst I washed. We listened to the radio and joked around, which made the chore aspect less noticeable. As we finished up, he said to me,
"You know, when you are older, it is moments like these that you are going to remember. I wish I had more chances to do the dishes with my dad."
Of course, being a kid whose only current thoughts were comparing the task of dish washing to child labor, I brushed it off with something akin to "Uh-huh. Sure."
Today especially, it is hard to ignore that statement, and impossible to deny that there is nothing I want more than to do the dishes with him again. Today on his anniversary, I think it crucial that we all appreciate all the little things we get to do with our loved ones today.
In particular, I remember performing the daunting task of washing the dishes-alone, I might add. Generously, dad helped out by drying whilst I washed. We listened to the radio and joked around, which made the chore aspect less noticeable. As we finished up, he said to me,
"You know, when you are older, it is moments like these that you are going to remember. I wish I had more chances to do the dishes with my dad."
Of course, being a kid whose only current thoughts were comparing the task of dish washing to child labor, I brushed it off with something akin to "Uh-huh. Sure."
Today especially, it is hard to ignore that statement, and impossible to deny that there is nothing I want more than to do the dishes with him again. Today on his anniversary, I think it crucial that we all appreciate all the little things we get to do with our loved ones today.
A Day of Honoring
Today is an anniversary of sorts.
I have always thought of anniversaries as joyous occasions, until this anniversary. The first anniversary of Dennis' death.This anniversary has changed my understanding of anniversaries and of joyous occasions and of celebrations. Anniversaries aren't only about joy, they are also about observing, paying attention, and noticing. Things Dennis centered his life upon.
So I will spend this first anniversary observing, paying attention to, and noticing all things Dennis, paying tribute to the very honorable and joyous life that he embraced and shared with us all.
I have always thought of anniversaries as joyous occasions, until this anniversary. The first anniversary of Dennis' death.This anniversary has changed my understanding of anniversaries and of joyous occasions and of celebrations. Anniversaries aren't only about joy, they are also about observing, paying attention, and noticing. Things Dennis centered his life upon.
So I will spend this first anniversary observing, paying attention to, and noticing all things Dennis, paying tribute to the very honorable and joyous life that he embraced and shared with us all.
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