Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Happy Birthday to my darling Will, I miss you


My husband Will would have been 72 on this his birthday, on August 27. My words are not able to convey how much I miss him, so I include here the profound words to Death Is Nothing At All


Original version read as a sermon upon the death of King Edward VII
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!



Bounce sitting on Will's memorial bench that we donated to the park near our house, where we can sit and watch the skateboard park and children's swings. Can you see the rose made of straw left there by an unknown person? The bench says "Bike Adventures" and has a bike carved into the back. That was my man!

39 comments:

Jennifer said...

Oh, Terra. Much love to you today my friend.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh dear Terra ~ Again, I am so sorry for you and Will not being together anymore in this life. But, that poem was absolutely wonderful and one day we will see our loved ones again. Thank you so much for sharing this, it really touched my heart.

Love, hugs & prayers ~ FlowerLady

Rita said...

What a beautiful poem! I hope you feel that way, yourself.
Great bench, too. :)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love the beautiful bench you have in honor of him. Sending you lots of hugs this week my friend, Diane

Junkchiccottage said...

Beautiful poem and what a beautiful way to remember Will with the memorial bench. You and Bounce can go there and think of him and all the wonderful memories. Beautiful post. Big Hugs.
Kris

Lin said...

Hugs, Terra, on this very difficult day. I love that poem!! I hope the promise of being together in heaven brings you peace today...and always.

Laurel Wood said...

I know you miss him so very much. The bench was such a lovely idea. I love everything about it, and how sweet the rose was left there. Thinking of you, especially today. xo

justjill said...

I dread the day. Lovely poem.

Cynthia said...

“How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!“. Such a beautiful thought and hope. I’m sorry you lost your love and I hope your beautiful memories sustain you today as you remember other birthdays.

Granny Marigold said...

That's such a touching poem. My deepest sympathies to you. I haven't been a follower long enough to know how long ago your dear Will died but I'm suspect the loneliness goes on no matter how many years pass.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

The bench is a beautiful memorial; so sorry you lost a good man and friend.

Ann said...

That poem is beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I know how you are feeling today since your husband and mine shared the same birthday.
Hugs to you today

Anonymous said...

I have tears after reading your post and poem. I can't believe you never mentioned this at our lunch. Sending you hugs!! Love Sparkles

Anonymous said...

Tears after reading your post and poem. I can't believe you didn't mention Will's birthday today at lunch. Happy Birthday to Will. Love and Hugs, Sparkles

Betsy said...

Terra, That is a beautiful poem. My heart goes out to you my dear friend. If I may, I would like to share it with my sister who lost her husband of 43 years last summer. She is still heartbroken, of course. I can't imagine the loss that both of you are feeling without your dear husbands by your sides. My prayers are with you both.
The bench is a beautiful tribute to a hobby your husband loved. Thank you for sharing with us.
Blessings,
Betsy

Michelle said...

Nothing harder to bear than the loss of a fine person. This poem is one I shared with my daughter during the loss of a classmate, a couple of years ago. Be well....

Mari said...

I love that poem. I love the bench too.
Prayers for you today...

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I do love that poem and though you are hurting today, I hope it gives you some peace.

Saimi said...

Oh my goodness this made me cry! It's a beautiful poem easy to read but hard to do. Your hubby and mine would have been good friends, I can see them enjoying riding bikes together! I love the memorial bench. My heart goes out to you.
Sending you lots of hugs!
Saimi

Linda said...

You have something so special.....he must have been a beautiful man. I am so glad you have such precious memories of him.

The Weaver of Grass said...

My feelings exactly upon the death of my darling farmer two years ago. This comes with such a feeling of empathy.

BECKY said...

Terra, I understand how much you miss Will. Love never fades, does it? That poem is beautiful. Sending you big hugs.

Latane Barton said...

Anniversarys of sorts are awfully hard to deal with. My heart goes out to you.

Jeanie said...

Hearts take a long while to heal but the missing goes on a lifetime, I think. Sending cyber hugs to you today. The poem is beautiful but more so is your love and remembrance. He sounds like a wonderful man.

Arkansas Patti said...

So sorry I am late getting here. I do hope that poem also speaks for you. That would be a wonderful way to bear a passing.
The memorial bench was a splendid idea. A place to watch the world go by as you smile about the good memories.

Blondie's Journal said...

This is such a lovely poem, Terra. I would prefer to remember my loved ones this way, and I hope my name is spoken often once I'm gone.

Sending love and a big hug...the bench is beautiful.

Jane xxx

Mevely317 said...

What an incredibly handsome fella! I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'd not seen this poem before, but it's going in my journal.

Retired Knitter said...

He looks like a wonderful man!! Sorry for your loss.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Sending lots of love and hugs your way. That poem is really very touching. How lovely that you dedicated a bench and have some place to sit in remembrance of your dear Will. Take care.

kath001 said...

The bench and this blog post are lovely tributes to a love interrupted. I know he was a wonderful man, because only those who were deeply loved are deeply grieved. Hugs to you.

Annie said...

Lovely poem. I hope you find a lot of comfort in it. Hugs sent your way.

Rebecca said...

Wow! Those words! What a great photo of your Will. Wish I could sit with you on that bench for awhile...♥️

My Tata's Cottage said...

Beautifully written words. I know there is a bit of comfort there for you and I am so very sorry you lost the love of your life. What a handsome man he was. August was a difficult month for us with the loss of tiny Alastor Avery but our son Jeremy and his lil phamily welcomed baby Blake on the 30th so it helped give us a happy memory to share along with all our sadness. Thank you for always being so kind and thank you for sharing your husband with us. That bench is quite wonderful HUGS and LOVE

Ronda@islandmother said...

The poem is beautiful. I’m sorry for your loss.

Judith said...

Oh, how beautiful a post to your beloved. I grieve for your loss. I wish you the best.

Judith said...

Terra,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about our new dog Sandy on my blog. I am so sorry for your loss of Will! I wish you the best and am so glad that you had him in your life to love. Judith

Debby@Just Breathe said...

((HUGS)) I love the bench.

jenny_o said...

Hello Terra, That is a beautiful poem, one I was not familiar with, so thank you. Wishing you good memories and peace.

Jenny said...

Wonderful poem and I love the bench. Lovely idea. You have my sincere condolences. xoxo