Letters to Our Loved Ones

In the past two months, our family has had to say goodbye to our beloved sister and our loving Mom. To say it has been an emotional journey is an understatement. Grief equals love. The depth of both are worth it because the memories and legacies they have left with our family are priceless.

Their passings were very different, but their spirits were so similar, and the losses are equally devastating. After an eight year journey with breast cancer, at the age of 59, my brave, sweet, younger sister died of breast cancer. Then, six weeks later, we said goodbye to our sweet and gentle mom, at the age of 90, after an eight year journey with dementia and a brief illness.

My heartache for their passing is so profound and painful. My love and memories for my sister and Mom were put into words and stories of their lives. Those words capture the essence and the spirit of their lives. And, writing and sharing their stories helped me to process my grief and feel closer to both of them.

Letters of love, in the poems that I wrote for each of them, were filled with memories of how each of them lived, loved and touched all of our lives. My poems, the letters of their lives, became part of our family’s history. My letters of love gave voice to the stories of who my sister and Mom were. My words captured how they lived, as well as what they meant to our family and to everyone who knew and loved them.

The tradition of writing poems, as I have written in my earlier letter, is rooted in my past. It is a gift I received from my father. His ability to write heartfelt letters and poems is part of the fabric of my heart. He passed away fourteen years ago, but he lives on in every word I write. I treasure the letters and poems he wrote, and they taught me so much about how loving and caring he truly was.

So, to celebrate the lives, love, or loss of family members and friends, I write my poems. Each one I write is from my heart - my gift to them and everyone who knows and loves them, so they forever have a special piece of their story. With humility, humor and so much love, I think of their hearts and their spirits. Then, words flow onto the page like a waterfall.

When I am privileged enough to share my poems, my heart overflows. The feeling of honoring my loved ones or friends in my own words is powerful. In my own way, my poetry allows me to reflect, remember and share their stories. It warms my heart to know that the memories of people I love and care about will continue to be shared with family and friends for years to come.

Generations of family members who read these poems will be able to feel their love and know so much more about their lives beyond the photographs and oral history shared by others. They will be able to notice similarities, feel connected to their hearts and their personalities, and learn how their lives shaped and touched our family and the world.

I will always celebrate, honor, remember and share the stories and memories of family members and friends through writing poetry, letters, or stories. That is my everlasting gift to those who mean so much to me.

The next time you must say goodbye to a loved one, write a letter. Share the stories you treasure. Your words will create an everlasting legacy, ensuring their memory lives on.

With precious memories of love and laughter,

Suzanne