Starting a new tradition

[Guest]

Tonight I took my girls to the Nutcracker Ballet. Thirty- seven years ago I took Deedo to the Nutcracker for the first time. We went every year until we moved to the White Mountains. Then when my daughter was in high school I took her for the first time. The plan was to take Deedo and my daughter the following year but it didn't happen. Last year my granddaughter became very interested in ballet but at four she was just too young to sit through a performance but from the time she was born I looked forward to the day I could take all three of my girls to the ballet. It was tonight. The four of us: Deedo, my daughter, my granddaughter and myself went to the ballet. Yes I bought four tickets. Naturally my eyes were very leaky throughout the performance as I would rest my hand on an empty seat wishing there was a hand there to hold. But something inside told me that this is a tradition worth keeping so next year; and every year after, the four of us will once again get dressed to the nines, the girls dripping with diamonds as Deedo would say, and we will head out to the Nutcracker. 

[WolfsKat]

Brad, that sounds like a lovely tradition to start......and I am sure your Deedo was with you during the performance!  You mentioned in your post the White Mountains....is it the White Mountains in New Hampshire?  My husband was born/raised there, and often spoke of those mountains, he loved to hike there.....we'd planned on going there together, someday.  I like that you are starting a new tradition....I'm at a loss to think of one for myself....but I think it would be a good and healing thing to do....thank you for sharing!

[Tfer]

Brad, that sounds like an excellent new tradition and something very special to share...Painful though the empty seat must have been. Good for you. I hope it brought you some joy and now, yes a new tradition for all to look forward to.  I guess that's exactly what we all need to do. Little by little find new ways to have joy with the people we love.

[Margm]

We had bought our first cell phone those many years ago, and thank goodness I could not get reception as I was going to report a "controlled burn" as a forest fire.  I was afraid to pull the big 5th wheel up to Alpine, so we parked it on the New Mexico side and toured those East Arizona mountains. I saw the arrow tree that is still a mystery to me off what they then called highway 666.  That part of Arizona is magical Brad.  I know it can be lonely for you and I could never travel there again either without Billy, it could never be the same without him seeing it also. It is beautiful country.   

[Guest]

Wolfskat-

The White Mountains I live in are in Eastern Arizona. Our house is at 7,000 feet.  

Of course, like you, I am early into the grieving process but I feel the need to talk to Deedo frequently (mostly saying I love you and I miss you) and to include her where it is important. We had a place setting for her at Thanksgiving and will at Christmas dinner as well. 

We all have such all-consuming voids in our lives now. I'm thinking part of the process is to find ways to fill that void. 

Tfer- although my eyes were very leaky (probably the only person ever to weep through the Nutcracker) it did bring joy feeling like I was surrounded by my girls. 

Marg- yep those controlled burns are all part of the Autumn ritual. Everyone complains about them as the smoke settles in but having been evacuated in 2001 due to the Rodeo-Chediski Fire I'd rather put up with the smoke for a few weeks than see my neighborhood scorched.