New Traditions

With all that's happened in the last year there was never a doubt that we'd be pulling double duty at the cemetery this year. Dad and I picked up the two extra trees when we went into Newburg. He got both of them put up in the horrible weather and even got the decorations and lights on Brandon's. Yes, lights. Every year my dad goes up and puts the three up and brings along one small strand of lights and a heavy duty extension cord. He plugs it in to the box on the pole right at the bottom of the hill. We're not the only family who does this either. There's always at least one other, sometimes two that plug in lights for a loved one. Brandon's tree has a hodgepodge of ornaments gathered over the years. Even one that his little sister donated who knows how many years ago, though my ornament really doesn't look the same as it once did.

The new tradition really falls with Papa's tree. It's been exactly one year and we're doing ok. I'll honestly say that more tears have been shed today, and in the past few weeks. We went up to the cemetery as soon as we saw that the sun was out. While Gramma was putting some garland up I decided to draw in the snow. It's not as easy as it looks and my hands were frozen from holding myself up. It was worth it though. This of course was after I was throwing snowballs at his headstone. (He would have found it amusing, though I would have had snow all down my back as a result.)

After we got all of the ornaments on the tree I went back to my car (which had Christmas music blaring) to get my camera. I snapped this shot as I was closing the door. (She doesn't know I took it) While she's unaware of the picture, I think it's beautiful. She'd stepped back to get a better look at the tree. It was important to us that there be a tree up there this year, even though I feel that he'll be here in the house with us during Christmas.

The last picture is a closeup of the finished tree. It turned out really nice and even has his favorite ornaments from the tree in the house. It's still strange to think that he's not here with us, and I still reach for the phone to call him. I even still get angry when I need a question answered and the one person who seemed to have all the answers in the world is the one person who can no longer answer me. I miss him, we miss him, but we're strong and we're making it.