Perfect Memories

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

-George S. Patton, Jr.

I cannot believe how rapidly time flies. How quickly life can change. How fast grief can turn to gratefulness.

It has been almost a year since D, M, T & J lost their lives, and almost a year and a half since Mark lost his.

I’ve look back at the person I was a year ago and I am honestly stunned at the person I am growing into.

I have learned how to deal with loss, grief, anger, sadness, and every other emotion in between at the hands of those wonderful five men. My life has been truly blessed because I had each of them in it.

While I still miss them and still think about them daily I no longer feel like I am drowning in the pain of it all anymore. I can finally talk to their families without the five of them being the main and only topic of conversation. I can share stories about them again, and I can truly laugh, and feel OK laughing, at my memories.

Time did not heal me. I healed me. I am so proud of that. I feel accomplished and successful. I know that my friends would feel the same.

Though they are physically gone from me, they are all alive and well in my heart and I know deep within my soul that they are watching over me.

I miss you my friends.

Thank you for loving me.

"Do not stand there at my grave and weep;

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand there at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die."

-Gwydion

Video: Remy Zero - Perfect Memory.