One year.

It is hard to make my mind understand that is has been one year. Grief says it hasn’t been that long. COVID time says it’s been a decade. It was the year where time didn’t exist but everything happened.

Each day has brought its own challenges. My friend told me on day 2 that all we can try to do is get up and do one meaningful thing. So from that moment, that’s what I did. Sometimes my meaningful thing was brushing my teeth, or showering. Sometimes it was something bigger and more substantial. Each week I tried to plan something like a memorial and each week I couldn’t fathom gathering everyone potentially putting someone’s health at risk. Then it started to feel “too late” so I decided on celebrating his life around the one year anniversary.

The celebration is Saturday, April 24th at 7 pm at The Island. I’m so excited to listen to stories and memories and just have a good time in his name. This didn’t happen in nearly the timeline I thought it would, or in the locations I initially intended. COVID, among other things, changed plans. I always find peace in these moments where I, the strict planner, know that he, master of go with the flow, would have been perfectly fine with whatever, whenever. 

I think he would be proud of us all. Finding happiness, finding light, choosing kindness and peace. He knew that life was for the living. He lived that way. He appreciated every second on Earth so that when we talked about life, at the end, he didn’t have regrets.

I have had people periodically reach out to me and let me know how they or their kids are doing. I really appreciate hearing those tid bits. They remind me that, while he may be gone, his lessons live on and his impact is still felt. 

I feel blessed to have been a part of his story and him a part of mine. Bob Marley still comes on now and then and I smile...

Every little thing is *still* gonna be alright.