It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember.

I hope this post doesn't come across as me being depressed.  I won't deny that the freezing cold, the dirty snow in NYC, 3 days of the stomach flu, a cancelled LA trip where I would finally get some vitamin D all merged together don't make a great recipe for February.  

I've been grasping at straws lately as to why I can't seem to pick up a pen and paper and write a note like I used to.  I can dream a note.  I can see my cursive, dramatic N in Natalie and can rattle off line after line of meaningful, affectionate words in my head.  It's almost as if I need a dictation device.  I often think about all of the special people who I know I owe a note to and I hope they can somehow feel how much I care, how much I love them and how much I thank them for things they have done for me.  I realize Emily Post is not proud of me and my Mom is quite horrified as this is just "not how you were taught Natalie Ann".  

This morning I was delayed out of Atlanta and as I sat on the runway, I flipped through old pictures on my phone realizing how bad I needed to delete several to open up memory.  Towards the end, I had deleted 46 out of 1,505 pictures.  Yes, 46.  I couldn't delete my memories.  They were too precious to me.  Below, is my favorite of the day bringing full circle the art of the handwritten note everyone in my family always has believed in.    

  

This note then led to me asking for peanuts from the flight attendant which led to me pouring them in my Diet coke exactly like my Granddaddy used to do.  

And finally, this led to me to a tiny scrap of paper I found when cleaning out my Grandparents belongings years ago.  I know I was meant to find this today.  I was meant to shed a tear or two tonight yet smile through my tears to know and feel my loved ones all around me, past and present.    

And what comforting words my Grandmother hand wrote for me to find.....

Mourn not for me for I'm at rest.  My soul is with my Saviour blest. 
I am from sin and sorrow free.  Prepare dear friend to follow me.  

It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember.