tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post548249687793421823..comments2023-10-31T12:12:35.050-05:00Comments on The Last Leaf On This Branch: Sentimental Sunday - Memories of Being a MomLaura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-85984609121539849652012-08-14T06:19:40.335-05:002012-08-14T06:19:40.335-05:00Jim, it's only tragic if we allow it to be. Th...Jim, it's only tragic if we allow it to be. The suggestion of keeping the mementos to give to Emilyn when she's older is such a lovely one, and I'm going to do that. <br /><br />And, on a much happier note, it IS my blogiversary! I wrote an updated (and dare I say much happier) post...I hope you'll read it too. Have a wonderful day.Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-41180097832086330382012-08-14T06:17:16.075-05:002012-08-14T06:17:16.075-05:00Peter, thanks!! I wrote an updated post...hope you...Peter, thanks!! I wrote an updated post...hope you'll take a look. Have a great day!Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-272630381862730562012-08-14T06:16:29.139-05:002012-08-14T06:16:29.139-05:00Oh, Mariann...my condolences for the loss of your ...Oh, Mariann...my condolences for the loss of your sister. And I completely understand the double loss in not being able to share your sister with her son in a way that you'd like. I'll pray that he finds comfort in getting to know his mom's family and that he appreciates the gift you'll give. <br /><br />I'm finding there are more of 'us' out there than I ever realized; it's a small comfort, but comfort just the same. My nieces kids don't lack for love, but like you I now have hope these little mementos will let her know how much we cherish her.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your story here, I truly appreciate it.Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-61395733449059844902012-08-14T05:47:53.599-05:002012-08-14T05:47:53.599-05:00Wow what a tragic story.
By the way, Happy Blogiv...Wow what a tragic story.<br /><br />By the way, Happy Blogiversary.<br /><br />Regards, Jim<br /><a href="http://www.hiddengenealogynuggets.com/genealogyblog" rel="nofollow"> Genealogy Blog at Hidden Genealogy Nuggets </a>Jim (Hidden Genealogy Nuggets Blog)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15493118494172970052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-72874493763912698982012-08-14T02:09:40.317-05:002012-08-14T02:09:40.317-05:00According to GeneaBloggers your blog is one year o...According to GeneaBloggers your blog is one year old today. Many happy returns!Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08512412669995490110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-64191087513898122552012-08-13T21:35:46.083-05:002012-08-13T21:35:46.083-05:00Thank you for writing this post, Laura. It helps u...Thank you for writing this post, Laura. It helps us to know that others have felt how it is to be "only" an aunt and uncle. Aunts and uncles feel great loss, too. Also, I really like the idea of giving Emilyn a "shadow box" / memory of how much she was loved even from the time she was born. That will help her to feel loved and supported as an adult.<br /><br />We are waiting until our nephew becomes an adult, next May, so that we can give him his mother's belongings that we have saved for 10 years now. His mother was my little sister, who died tragically from cancer at age 46 in 2002. Our nephew was seven years old then. We see our nephew as much as we are allowed to by his father, but alas, that is a painful subject. When he turns 18, we hope that we'll be able to see more of him and share the mementos we have kept for him. We share with you the loss that an Aunt and Uncle can feel. Thank you again.Mariann Reganhttp://mariannregan.authorsxpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-4434051231903508672012-08-13T05:22:31.130-05:002012-08-13T05:22:31.130-05:00This, this is a fabulous idea! My cousin gave me a...This, this is a fabulous idea! My cousin gave me a silver spoon w/my great (or great-great, we're not sure) grandmother's initials on it; we share a name. She gave it to me on HER 25th wedding anniversary. I treasure it so much; I wrote about it in my blog. <br /><br />Thank you for a truly wonderful idea. Who knows if she'll appreciate it or not, but it would be a way for her to know just how loved she is. Fabulous idea!Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-80646958288244069782012-08-13T05:18:28.884-05:002012-08-13T05:18:28.884-05:00Thanks, Kathy. I really did think I was ready; wha...Thanks, Kathy. I really did think I was ready; what I was unprepared for was the rush of emotions these little items evoked. Putting it down in writing helped, and I suspect I'll be able to part with them in a while. For now, I'm going to keep them aside, in a box of Ephemera, with a copy of this post. :-)Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-43763048982557287582012-08-13T05:15:49.178-05:002012-08-13T05:15:49.178-05:00Mary Ann, thank you so much for sharing this with ...Mary Ann, thank you so much for sharing this with me and you have my condolences on the loss of Geoff. <br /><br />I remember in a brief, 3 day visit to England I kept thinking just how confusing it would be to try to drive! And the tweets made me laugh.<br /><br />You're absolutely right; while I'd thought I would be OK finally putting this things away, their meaning goes beyond the loss of my niece and the brief time my husband and I got to take care of her little girl. <br /><br />Again, thank you for taking the time to read this and share your experience. Geoff and Krystine live on in us.<br /><br />Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-50439381784439411302012-08-13T05:00:52.865-05:002012-08-13T05:00:52.865-05:00Thank you, Celia. Thank you, Celia. Laura Cosgrove Lorenzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794581991087280753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-26987513898141200632012-08-12T22:30:36.413-05:002012-08-12T22:30:36.413-05:00Or, how about a shadow box to go with a letter of ...Or, how about a shadow box to go with a letter of how much she touched your life and give it to her someday when she is an adult? Just a thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-37326546176995783912012-08-12T22:12:40.901-05:002012-08-12T22:12:40.901-05:00Laura,
I was truly touched by this story. You'...Laura,<br />I was truly touched by this story. You've captured it. I think, perhaps, you might be able to give these items away because you have this story, and a great picture to serve in place of the actual objects. Give it a few days, and I think you'll know what you're comfortable doing.Kathy Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09417754385375586302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-64969660921137421482012-08-12T22:10:43.506-05:002012-08-12T22:10:43.506-05:00Laura,
I understand some of what you are feeling, ...Laura,<br />I understand some of what you are feeling, because my dear husband died just over 6 weeks ago, after only 17 years of marriage. We had both been widowed and met after I had been on my own for 5 years, and he had been so for a year. I met him through mutual friends on a trip to England, when he came to visit with the friends. Whenever people would ask me how I happened to have a British husband, I told them that he was "the souvenir of a trip I made to England." <br /><br />For the past month, I have been having to go through clothes and personal effects to make some of the decisions that you are making now. <br /><br />Probably the most meaningful item I have from him is the autobiography that he wrote of his life--he stopped writing it about 5 years ago, not long after he turned 81. He said that I would have to finish it for him. <br /><br />As I have been going through his personal items, I have found personal items that I was not aware of. I knew about the cricket ball from his playing days, but found photos I had not seen before of sports and of days in the British Army right after WWII. Eventually these items will go back to England, to Geoff's two daughters for his grandchildren, but I may not be able to let go of them for a while. <br /><br />Only you can decide if you are ready to let go of the items you found. You could always put them in a separate container, so they will not be mixed in with random items in a big plastic box. But the blog entry you have just written is a beautiful tribute to your niece, and to you and your relationship with her and her children. In that, you have built a memory, and a portion of your own autobiography.<br /><br />I have been tweeting this evening about driving in England, on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road, and using an automatic transmission. I know about that because of the many trips to the UK that I had with my dear Geoff (over 20), and have built many memories that I will never forget, as long as I have memory and the ability to enjoy it.<br /><br />I understand your loss and the meaning such small items can have to trigger important memories. You have not only lost a loved niece, but a set of relationships that meant a lot to you. You will decide when the time is right for you to let the items go.<br /><br />I read your blog after reading your tweet about<br />The Last Leaf on this Branch.Mary Anne Pricenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927510992143247693.post-16935503955695138502012-08-12T21:56:50.561-05:002012-08-12T21:56:50.561-05:00Memories will last forever.
And this blog will a...Memories will last forever. <br />And this blog will also last for a very long time... <br />Thanks for sharing in this post, Laura.Celia Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04096301290962083820noreply@blogger.com