The holidays always bring the grief back.

[lark]

4. My mom's dad died on Thanksgiving day so it was really hard for her for many years.

For me, it's Christmas. Mom loved Christmas so much and I totally got that gene from her. She loved Christmas songs and dad and i loved singing them, it was special for us. The first traditional Christmas song I hear, I cry - has happened every year since she passed. I miss her so much, her gentle sweetness and kindness.

This year my sisters life partner is no longer with us. My sister is having such a difficult time, I'm not sure how I should handle the blessing. We always start by saying what we are grateful for and mostly it's that we (our generation) was still together, but that is no longer true. I know Brenda will cry if I mention Paul, but feel like I need to do that. Guess I will just have to talk to her and see how she wants me to handle this?