Happy Birthday My Love

Today I should be celebrating Rich’s 78th birthday with him but instead I’m sharing memories. We always went to Damon’s Steakhouse for our birthday dinners and this was Rich’s last year’s birthday celebration there. Happy Birthday my love, I am so lost without you.

The last shirt you wore is hanging on the chair.

I just don’t have the heart to move it any where.

The smell on your pillow makes me feel like you are near.

I hug it every night just like you are here.

Your Dodge hat that you once wore,

Sits in your corner to be worn no more.

It’s the little things that I still see,

That holds the memories of you and me.

Wordless Wednesday Rambling

Since it’s Wordless Wednesday I’m just posting some wonderful memories of Rich that will be forever remembered.

Our last trip to Cherokee together was March 20, 2024, Rich woke me up about 1:30AM and said let’s go to the mountains. I never dreamed that a week later he would be gone. But as were standing by the stream, watching the waterfall, he said, “I could stay here forever.” This was at one of the highest elevations, almost to heaven.

I love the love that Lia and Pop had, she made him this frame out of popsicle sticks for his 74th birthday.

One thing Pop loved was a daily can of Pepsi and a Twinkie. Last birthday Alex and Lia gave him the best birthday of a Twinkie and Pepsi!

I think Snowball knew something a few days prior. He would always sit on my lap when we went out but this particular day he inched over the center console and snuggled his head on Rich’s lap.

Rich was so handsome, it’s no wonder he swept me off my feet on Christmas Day 1965.

I love you forever babe, save me a seat for when I see you again. *7/31/46 – 3/31/24* 10:24

A beautiful plaque our daughter Chris and her hubby Bryon gave me this year for Rich’s 78th birthday. Couldn’t be said any better.

Happy Heavenly Birthday my love, we all love and miss you so much.

I don’t think I would have made it through this week, between our anniversary and Rich’s birthday without my daughter Chris by my side. Spending these special days in the Great Smoky Mountains, reliving the memories and making new ones has been the best why to celebrate Rich’s special days. And the best was having the beautiful blue butterflies around us the past 4 days, knowing Rich is watching over us.

This has always been one of our favorite spots to visit in Cherokee, it’s an old village along side the Oconaluftee River. Rich was sitting on the outside bench a few years ago, yesterday Chris, Bryon and I were sitting on the bench on the other side of the door. It looks like Rich is looking at us!

Rich wore many hats, whether he was called Richard, Rich, Dad, Papa, or Pop he will forever be in our hearts.

July UBC

I almost forgot today is the last day of the July Ultimate Blog Challenge. I don’t know how I’ve managed to complete a blog everyday but I did. Thank you all who visited, read and commented on Lia’s and my blogs. See you in October and hope my mindset is a bit better. BLOG ON!!!

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Martha DeMeo

I started my blog on Christmas Day 2014 mainly to review products I received. Since then it has evolved into many other categories of lifestyles, family, money saving ideas, low cost, delicious and healthy meals plus other surprise posts. My granddaughter has her own category, Alex's Articles and the latest addition to my blog is my great granddaughter now has her category, Lia's Likings The Baby Blogger! Lia started blogger at 8 months old and she now has a Friday Story Time blog you won't want to miss! I welcome you to join the conversation, ask a question, give a suggestion or leave a comment on any blog post. I hope you enjoy Lia's Likings, she has some great posts that will make you smile!

11 Discussion to this post

  1. Martha, reading this genuinely brought tears to my eyes. Your love for Rich is palpable. I am so glad you got to go to the mountains with him and experience his awe before he passed. The love you pour out for your family brings me so much hope for the world. Thank you for sharing your stories so vulnerably.

  2. Amrita Basu says:

    You are in my prayers always Martha. Rich was truly handsome and through your words it feels like I knew him too.

  3. Martha, Martha, Martha– what an adventure of a life you and Rich had together! There is nothing more important than love. What a blessing that you have Chris and Byron (do they have children?), as well as the younger ones. You are still surrounded by Earthly love as well as Heavenly Love. And Rich is watching over you, sending you signs. How meaningful that you had the ceremony in Cherokee. Your life has a great deal of meaning, spreading service and love as you have long done. Much love and hugs to you!

    • Martha says:

      Thank you so much Kebba. Chris has 4 grown children scattered throughout different states but her 33 year old daughter along with her hubby and 3 kiddos live about 1/2 hour from me. Without Chris, Bryon and Alex and Lia I don’t think I would have survived these past 4 months. I see so many signs from Rich so I know he is watching over us all.

  4. Martha, in every picture of you with Rich, the love between you just shines so brightly!! I love that you celebrated his birthday. And the poem you wrote is just beautiful! Congrats on making it all the way through to the end. If I don’t see you before then, I’ll see you in October.

    • Martha says:

      Thank you Jeanine, his birthday was four months after God called him home and I wouldn’t have been able to make it through without my daughter and granddaughter.

  5. Tamara says:

    What a bittersweet post. Happy birthday, Rich! I never got to meet you in person, and still I’m sitting over here, dabbing my wet eyes.
    Hugs to you Martha, it must be so hard, and yet you’re bravely facing every day, looking for signs and answers.

    Congratulations on completing another UBC, and kudos to you for posting every day with all that was going on!

    • Martha says:

      Thank you Tamara, I have to keep busy or I’ll fall apart even more than I am. Rich was the best and God has a great Angel to work on his heavenly gardens.

  6. Sending you hugs and prayers.

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