While Alessandra Nicole turned her grief into a powerful message and shared it with the world two years ago, we celebrated a combined birthday party for my sons with as many friends and family as we had ever gathered together.
Later that day, I sat on our couch with the boys and watched the “live” stream I had buffered in hopes it would still be up after the party.
Alessandra had asked permission to use a couple artifacts referencing Mary’s death. I expected we might appear in a collage or be mentioned in passing. Instead, she put our story in the forefront, parallel to the loss of her grandmother on the same day as Mary’s passing.
My heart dropped and I paused the video, apologizing to the boys and giving them a chance to not watch any more. They were too transfixed about being on a big screen, behind a friend, and broadcast to the world to be concerned with anything else.
They’ve taught me a lot about grief and living. No matter how trivial, the concerns of life are greater than the concerns of death.
Alessandra and letter writing have also taught me a lot about grief and living. Our journeys have remained parallel and the last two years have been marked by the letters I have written.
I haven’t written a letter in months. I can’t say why. I’ve sat with my letter-writing kit many times, written a few Dear So-And-So’s, but haven’t completed or sent any.
I’m going to watch this talk again. I’m going to write again.
God bless and thank you for reading,
Jason