One Year

It's been one Halloween where he wasn't there to ooh and ahh over the kids costumes while wearing his jack-o-lantern beanie hat.

It's been one Thanksgiving where he wasn't at the head of the table.

It's been one Pikku Joulu where he didn't snuggle with Mark to keep him still while his siblings performed.

It's been one Christmas since he quietly gathered up Christmas wrappings that mounded high all around.

It's been one year without trips taken together.

It's been one holiday season when he didn't put someone to shame in a head to head karaoke match.

It's been one holiday season that he didn't complain good-naturedly about all of the snowmen Geri decorates with.

It's been one Valentine's day where the kids didn't make him Valentine cards.

It's been one tulip festival without him.

It's been one birthday of ours he wasn't there for.

It's been one Easter where he wasn't there for the Easter Egg hunt.

It's been one spring where he wasn't there working magic in his yard to create lovely flowers.

It's been one Father's Day without him.

It's been one of his birthdays where he wasn't there for chocolate cake.

It's been one summer where he wasn't there squirting water from a water gun at an unsuspecting grandchild, where he wasn't manning the grill, where he wasn't mowing his lawn and watering his yard.

It's been one summer without a picnic at the beach.

don't be fooled by the jackets...this really was summer

It's been one year of growth he didn't mark on his garage wall.

It's been one August without a salmon barbecue.

It's been one summer of swim meets he didn't watch.

It's been one year without his advice for repair projects.

It's been one summer without bike rides along the river.

 

It's been one year without his warm smile and arms that every grandchild (and even some that weren't his actual grandchildren) seemed to want to be wrapped up in.

It's been one year.