<!--quoteo(post=294668:date=Jun 19 2008, 10&#58;38 AM:name=JoeyandDavid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JoeyandDavid &#064; Jun 19 2008, 10&#58;38 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&amp;pid=294668">&lt;strong&gt;QUOTE BELOW&lt;/strong&gt;</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=294665:date=Jun 19 2008, 07&#58;08 AM:name=deb1220)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (deb1220 &#064; Jun 19 2008, 07&#58;08 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&amp;pid=294665">&lt;strong&gt;QUOTE BELOW&lt;/strong&gt;</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I had a hard time sleeping last night after the ceremony for my brother. It all went well and everything but it was just another reminder that he&#39;s really gone. But I&#39;m glad we did it - it was a great tribute.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br />You know Deb.....For the past few days I have been wondering what to say to try and comfort you during this time..<br />I think I understand how you are feeling, losing family /close friends with no doubt takes a lot of a person physically and emotionally ... I think it is part of the grieving process that MUST be endured or we would never be able to handle the strains of life. I also feel it&#39;s normal to have that reflective moment after everything is said and done.. and you&#39;re in your private space all alone in your own world and let your inner self have a chance reflect and experience what your spirit and soul truly feels. My heart is with you, and if you care to drop me a note.. <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/happy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":happy:" border="0" alt="happy.gif" /> <br />I also know that Memories and Smiles will soon replace the tears in your heart... <br />God Bless you and his entire family/friends that miss him.<br /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br />Thank-you so much <b>Joey</b>. You don&#39;t know how much your kind words and thoughts mean to me. The gathering and the &quot;ashes ceremony&quot; were more of a celebration of his life with people telling stories and anecdotes about him - some that would make you laugh and some that might make you cry. That&#39;s the type of person he was and he would have wanted it that way. Some people thought it was kind of strange that at his funeral, in Jan., we did not have a religious service but rather an &quot;open mike&quot;, as it were, for anybody to come up and say a few words - that&#39;s what he wanted. <br /><br />I just got back from lunch and shopping with a good friend of mine. She was all upset and depressed because of something that happened to a good friend of her husband&#39;s. This friend&#39;s 6 year-old grandson died as a result of a dirt bike accident on Father&#39;s Day. He was riding with his dad and crashed into him sustaining serious brain injuries. It just tore me up - I don&#39;t understand - why a young child?<br />Enough of the sad stuff&#33;<br /><br /><b>Rose</b> -I bet your countertops are beautiful&#33;<br /><b>Mary Lou </b>- Glad everything went well&#33; Thanks to you also for your kind words. It&#39;s funny you should mention about how you get together on your mother&#39;s b&#39;day. My SIL and niece were discussing doing a similar thing. Yesterday was my brother&#39;s b&#39;day&#33;<br /><b>Cheryl</b> - Have a fun and safe trip&#33;<br /><br /><br />