Well, the headstone is set now. Yesterday it saw its first sunrise. Today is the first big family holiday since we lost Andy. As winter sets in, I am happy that I can read the headstone from the small cemetery roadway without having to leave the warmth of the car and trudge through the snow.
I feel a slight sense of relief to have the last bit of "arrangements" complete. We delayed ordering the headstone for a while until the fundraisers were complete. (Thanks again, Ryan. Your help and hard work were amazing.)
I love this headstone, especially the bass clef music symbol. This was one of Jeff's suggestions -- a great idea. The headstone is one of the brightest in that area of the cemetery. The location is great too. I have visited the site weekly, continuing the tradition of having lunch with Andy. Sadly, I think I have more diligent since he passed.
Today is going to be hard for the whole family. As usual, we are all coming together for football, dinner, and pie. I think watching football today will be the most difficult without Andy's point-on comments mocking the Lions. The post-dinner game will miss Andy's snoring from the couch. These were my Thanksgiving traditions.
This year, in addition to the four of us, we will have my parents, my in-laws, and my brother-in-law, Jason, for dinner. Tim will be working in Cleveland today. Jeff is busy as a new daddy in Honolulu. Both of you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
We will have a chair and setting for Andy. I expect we will have more leftovers than usual too. I am not trying to start a new tradition, but I think I need it this year.
I love you brother.
