Just Good Memories!
A friend of mine passed away a couple of days ago and when I found out about it today it sent me into a pretty reflective place. She wasn’t a friend in the traditional sense – in fact I only ever met her once in person – but I’ve known her online for well over 10 years and although she lived across the pond we would have a chat on Facebook from time to time and she was someone that I had a lot of time for.
She was always positive, never had a bad word to say about anyone and was just a genuinely nice person – and a great mum to her two children. In fact she was one of the main reasons I started blogging in the first place back in 2004!
But now she’s gone.
Although her passing won’t manifest itself in any obvious way in my day-to-day life it’s just a horrible feeling that she isn’t ‘there’ anymore. Far more importantly she is no longer there for her husband or her children or the rest of her close family and friends and I’ve absolutely no idea how you would begin to move on from that.
So today of all days I think it’s important to reflect on how incredibly lucky I am to have what I have – great, supportive, loving parents, a wife who means more to me as each year goes by and a little one who is the most amazing gift that anyone could ever ask for. I love writing about the funny and sometimes infuriating things he does because I enjoy making other people laugh and it’s nice to have that bond with other parents where we all help each other feel less alone in all of this and a bit less useless!
But today isn’t the day for one of those posts.
Today for me is about remembering that there are no guarantees in life and that the memories we create now are the things that we will have to look back on – so however many times I have to drag him down from climbing the dining table today or however many times he wakes up before 6am again this week it’s a really small price to pay for the joy that our little one has brought to our lives.
I won’t remember the bad bits as the years go by, but the good bits will stay with me for life. Fortunately we have so many good memories of our little one already and the following memories are some of the things that will send me to bed tonight with a smile on my face.
Aw gorgeous pictures , it’s great that with iPhones etc it’s so easy to take pics of happy times and to look back at them regularly. Sorry to hear about your friend x #fortheloveofblog
Thanks very much. Photos are so nice to look back on and much easier these days than getting 24 out of focus shots back from the chemist!
Beautiful post and photos, thank you for sharing. Made me reflect on a friend that was taken far too early and how much I wish she was here to meet my son. I really am so lucky and need to keep reminding myself to enjoy every day. I am really sorry about your friend, hope you manage to raise a glass to her this weekend. I will raise one for my friend Lisa. Xx #fortheloveofblog
It’s easy to lose track of all the good things we have in life I think. Have a lovely weekend!
Oh wow, look at those beautiful photos and memories!! I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, and something like that really does have a its way of making you think. It makes me think of the loss of my brother, who was only 26 years old when he died. It’s now coming up on the 5 year anniversary of his death, and I’m left wondering where all the years have gone. Thanks for sharing! <3 #KCACOLS
Really sorry to hear about your brother. What a terrible loss of someone so close to you. Hopefully you have lots of great memories to remember him by.
I’m really sorry to hear about your friend James. These photos are lovely and I really like how you’ve displayed them – I think I’ve remarked before that your wife is absolutely stunning but I’ll say it again because it’s your anniversary 🙂 #KCACOLS
Thanks for that. My wife is lovely – not sure what she’s doing with me!! Enjoy your Sunday!
I am so sorry to hear about your friend, it’s devastating to lose anyone, whether they were physically in our lives or not. Those photos are amazing, they really made me smile. Thank you. #KCACOLS
Thanks for your lovely comment!
A lovely post and a positive spin on things. Sometimes things are so unexpected we need to cherish every moment we have with our loved ones #KCACOLS
Absolutely! Thanks for commenting!
Lovely post. So many great pictures and memories. Sorry to hear about your friend! #kcacols
Thanks. She was certainly a lovely person and will be missed.
Lovely post. Sorry to hear about your friend, and it is shame it takes bad news to make us stop and reflect. All your photos are great too. #MarvMondays
It’s a shame bad news comes so often these days! Thanks for your lovely comment!
What lovely photos and wonderful memories. I’m sorry to hear about your friend. It is so sad when people go, no matter how well you knew them or how often you saw them. I suppose it is the only thing that is certain in this world for all of ( without being morbid!) so making memories is so important. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
Memories are everything! However hard up and shattered you may be it’s always important to keep making memories!
I’m sorry about your friend. There are some lovely pictures there though – great memories for you #KCACOLS
Thanks very much for your lovely comment!
Beautiful beautiful post James and so true. I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost a friend last year who I lost touch with but his death has left a void in my life considering he influenced me in so many incredible ways. He left behind a beautiful wife and three children. I have no idea how they cope but they do. The loss is so huge #KCACOLS
It does take you by surprise the emotions that come up when someone passes away! I think especially now when you know they have littlest ones left behind. Horrible! Thanks for commenting Geraldine!
What a fab collection of photos, and such a beautiful post. I’m so sorry for your loss. These things always make us stop and refocus don’t they. x #KCACOLS
What beautiful pictures! I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I often think about how awful this would be if it happened to us. It makes me realise that we need to grateful for every day and to kiss and cuddle our children that little bit extra every night. Thanks so much for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
Just can’t imagine how you’d move on from it, but I guess you find a way because you have no choice. Very tough though!
I am so sorry for your loss – but you are so right. This life is full of joy, even in the darkest of times and spending time with the ones we love and making memories is the ultimate meaning to life. #KCACOLS
Absolutely. Every day can be filled with good memories to look back on!
Its really sad when you get news like this. It does remind us of our own mortality which is a scary thought once you have little ones. Its lovely to be able to reflect and be greateful for all the wonderful things and the fact that we are still here and well. I love what you said about how the bad moments will pass but the good ones will stay with us in the years to come. Its so true and a lovely reminder to appreciate these moments for what they are 🙂 Thanks for sharing this on #MarvMondays. Emily