It was an annual outing. Your trip up to “The Santa Sale”. You’ve collected them for years now…too many years for me to count. The Santas made of vintage quilts and coats and furs and trinkets. You woke up early every year so you could be the first in line. You brought special Christmas music for everyone in line to enjoy. With coffee in hand, you waited patiently for the doors to open and as always, conversed with the many people you befriended there throughout the years. I would get a phone call from you describing in perfect detail which Santas you picked out for us this year. It was always followed up by an e-mail that said, “10 great iMac photos from Steve Manthe”. I would oooh and ahhh over which ones you chose because every year they were…perfect.
I have found that it’s the silly things you never even think twice about that you end up missing the most. They are only Christmas Santas, but I found myself in a panic wondering what we would ever do without a new addition this year. We needed a new one to display…to remind us of you…to remind us that we can get through this holiday season without you. It pains me to even write that…
After you left us, we had so many people tell us how they were going to miss you being there this year…how it wouldn’t be the same…and so she went…my beautiful Mama. She woke up early, she got a coffee, she stood in line, and she came home with four beautiful Santas for us this year. She described them to me in detail just as you would have. …and both of our hearts were heavy. We have thought about the ending of this year…how our lives before August 16th were a dream and how our lives after are something so entirely different. Still, my Mama took a baby step today…one that was hard for her to take and for that, I am so so proud of her. She got you your Santa…and you would love it…
I am missing you with a missing I have never known before. I will LOVE you for the rest of my days…
Your Cowcie
Luka with your 2007 Santa
