watervole | Do not stand at my grave and weep

Thank you all for the pictures, poems and anecdotes. You're a very perceptive bunch and are posting exactly the kind of things that I needed. I think I shall go back and look at them many times in the future. Each time I log on, I see new ones and they all help.
There's one or two of you who actually knew Rosalie. If you want to post a happy memory of her at any age, please do so.
You've all respected my request to avoid good advice, commiserations and poems about death and for that I thank you again.
There's only one death-related poem that I'm allowing and I'm posting that myself

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
  I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
  I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
  I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
  I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
  I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
  I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
  I am not there, I did not die!
Mary Frye (1932)
  You're all helping me to follow that philosophy.

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That was a gorgeous poem, thanks for posting it.

*hugs*

1) Meeting your mum with two toddlers on tricycles.

2) Playing "Twinball" with your spouse - Rosalie and Gillian being the balls!

3) Sitting in the pub with Rosalie and suddenly realising that not only is she "pubbable" but was a very elegant young lady!

Alastair

I called "Twinball" "Catch", but either name fits. (They were about 10 or 11 when it was played).

I just had a few minutes to log onto Livejournal and catch up. As you know, you posted the verse I like the best, so when I get back from Boston, I will scan some of my favorite pictures of New England and the water for you. I got some great shots in RI a few weeks ago.

In the meantime, I will tell you a funny story so that hopefully you'll have some laughter through the tears. I am rather well-endowed, and on my recent trip to New England, Michael and I were on our way to New Hampshire when the strap on one of my new bras broke. The other one broke the day before at his house, but I thought it was just an aberration and silently thanked my lucky stars that I had thought to bring an extra one. I was mortified as we stopped at a rest stop and I felt the plastic ring holding the darned thing together go "pop." I ran into the restroom and tried pinning the strap and the bra together, but to no avail. Every time I tried to put the bra back on, the pins popped. Much to my dismay, Michael looked at my chest and saidn, "You look fine to me," then made me get into the car and keep driving. Mind you, I have to special order bras, so there was no chance of going to a store and finding another one in an emergency!

He finally came up with the idea of running dental floss through the loops on both ends of the strap and bra and holding it together with that and some heavy duty safety pins. We were looking for a convenience store when he suddenly looked at the metal key ring and asked if I could thread that through the bra. Genius! We found a hotel and I sat in the car laughing until I nearly wet myself, watching him try to get all the keys off of two rings. I ran into the hotel and with a great deal of effort, got the rings threaded into the loops on the bra. I told Michael that I now understood why he preferred men--no sanitary supplies and no exploding bras!

As a small remembrance, I left 3 little gold safety pins on his nightstand in his house. I also now carry dental floss and extra key rings in my purse, just in case! He and his partner are still laughing about it.

I hope that cheers you up a bit until I can post the pictures.

Lots of love,

Debora and Liam

P.S. I was watching BBC America last night and watched "Randall and Hopkirk" for the first time. I had it on in the background when I suddenly looked up and saw Gareth. I let out such a shriek that I scared poor Liam! I waited for the repeat at 2:00 a.m. and taped it. What a wonderful treat! As you used to say, just think of Gareth--that is always good for at least one smile!

Do not stand at my grave and weep

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