I hope all of you are enjoying a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I want to give my respect and my deepest heartfelt thanks to all the brave men and women in our armed forces that have paid the ultimate price for keeping us safe and free.
I will start by telling everyone that is paying their respects to their loved ones that have left to start their next chapter I am so sorry for your loss. I have no other words that will make that pain go away. I can only say I am positive they are with us every day watching over us and guiding us.
I want to tell you about a very special event that I was able to attend this week. I had written an earlier story about a grief counseling group of kids that had lost a parent. We picked them in a limo and took them to Community Park to release some balloons with a note tied to it. Then we took them for ice cream. This story is about their annual butterfly release and how fortunate and honored I was to be invited to it.
I want to thank Anna Long for inviting me to this event. My first reward of the night started when I walked into the building at Promontory Point. Three kids including Anna’s two kids Amelia and Gavin noticed me and they all yelled, “Hey, it’s Shane our limo driver!” The smiles on their faces were so cute and it was very heartwarming. I told them how great it was to see them again. “We need to go on another limo ride!” I told them and they immediately agreed.
I went outside where they were going to have the ceremony. One of the dad’s that was there came up to me and we both agreed we know each other from somewhere. I found out he works for Westside Farms in Terreton and used to come into John Deere all the time. He told me he lost his wife about four years ago and how much he still misses her. I must admit, it took me back to the first few years after Shannon passed away. As I met with some of the other parents and listened to them talk, I wished there was something I could say to let them know it would all be okay. But I knew from experience the only way to get through it, is to go through it. The only advice I could give them is whatever emotions and feelings they have they are not wrong. I told them as much as they can, it helps to focus on the blessings of family and friends.
Anna gathered everyone around and explained how the ceremony works. Everyone was given a butterfly and then we were to give a message for our loved ones to our butterflies. Then we would release them into the sky. I watched as everyone started telling their butterfly the message they wanted to send. It was very heartening to watch and gave me a tremendous feeling of peace and warmth. This was one of the most heartwarming events I have been to in a long time.
The message I sent to my Angel Shannon was simply thanking her for her daily strength and guidance and to let her know I will always LOVE AND MISS HER.
Next Week: Happy Graduation Cassidy
P.S. It’s obvious I’m the World’s Best Limo Driver to at least three amazing kids anyway.