I spent yesterday moving my daughter's apartment. My house looks like a storage bin, but eventually I'll eliminate some of the stuff. I'm happy that the move is over and I don't have to go back to her apartment. I feel like she has come home, even though it is just her stuff. My granddaughter and I are going to create a memorial for Libra in the corner of the living room. I don't view it as a shrine, but a special area that is a tribute to her love, and a place to remember her. We will set up a small table with photo's, candles, and some of her personal things. We will hang the mermaid photochop my friend Cheryl did, that I gave my granddaughter for Christmas. Libra was into mermaid fantasy art, and her favorite movie was "The Little Mermaid". She loved Disneyland. She would have loved this artwork. Here's a link to the photochop:http://www.johnbaxter.com/libra/mermaid.htmlMy granddaughter is very creative, and I think this will be good for her to do. She works full time, and goes to school full time, so this will be a place she can go when she can't go to the cemetary. My dear friend Chris is going to make a donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation in my daughter's name. I am very touched by her generousity. I finally got my daughter's death certificate. On a practical level, I can now close out some of my daughter's affairs, but on a personal level it was unnerving to read it. Libra's headstone should be ready next week. I'm glad for that. It bothers me that Libra is in an unmarked grave.
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It bothered me too, that Melissa wasn\'t marked, but I came to realize that she was along because I know where she is. She has a beautiful headstone made just for her. Thats a very nice thing your friend has done with her donation. We have a University Bursary set up in Melissa\'s name this is a memorial to her and she is helping her fellow students get their educations, as this was very important to her. The memorial corner for your daughter sounds like a wonderful idea. We are looking at doing that with Melissa\'s bedroom. Thinking of making it a quiet reading room with Melissa in mind. Try to be kind to yourself as we are all very delicate in our grief at times and you really have to just do what you can when you can. Take Care, Hugs.
I sympathize with you John, My son was renting a house with a roommate. It was his roommate that found him, he never went back except to pack his things and leave. The landlord was not easy to deal with - he wanted up to get all of Shauns things out in two weeks, it was hard but we managed. I kept boxes & boxes in my living room and as I could, little by little started going through them. I was unnerved also by his death cert. - and his autopsy reports.
I hope the memorial place in your home will comfort you - post a pic when you have it finished so we can all see.
take care, stay strong........
Deni
all these things that happen after someone has passed are just so tough and hard to go through. I love the memory garden for John and our youngest son that I have - only thing is, only myself and my mother go there....my grandchildren have come with me sometimes - but I think it would be good to have a corner of the garden at home. I am so glad you and your granddaughter have each other for comfort - I do wish you strength John and am thinking of you....Cathrynn XX
I have a memorial to my late husband set up in my living room. It has the flag from his funeral in a case that also holds a picture and some of his air force medals and some other dear military things he loved. It gives me great comfort to have it there. Reading the death certificates is very hard and i remember crying like a bay when I read Jims\'. Thank you so much for sharing the song with us.
Hi John...reading Dad\'s death certificate made my cry too. I love the idea of a memorial corner, I am sure your granddaughter will find that so helpful in her busy life. As I have been working in my garden, a place that Dad would love to sit out in while the sun was shining, I think that I am making it more beautiful for him. I so wish that he could come back and sit in it again. Take care. Tahnee X
Hey John,
I think that is such a wonderful idea to make a special area with Libra\'s things in it. That is so nice. I want to do something for my Mom but I\'m not sure what or where. I can\'t look at her pictures too much because it just reminds me of how surreal this all is. If that makes any sense. Anway, I am sure she is in Heaven smiling down on you both feeling quite proud :)