We also wanted to start a tradition of releasing helium filled balloons attached with personal notes that we’ve written. Unfortunately, the helium filled balloons didn’t last very long and when we tied the notes to them, they didn’t float away. Frustrating, but also funny.

So, instead we burned them. We had a teeny bonfire with all the little notes in the front of the new garden we planted. Ashes to ashes…

My note was supposed to float away and lead whoever found it to this blog post. I also wrote my 6 words poem:

The cardinal sings; I remember him.

And I do.

It was early Tuesday morning, the alarm went off at the normal time of 5:15am and James and I decided to sleep in a bit that day. After we decided to go back to sleep I was in a slumber – sleeping but 100% aware of it. You know that transition phase? I was soon startled completely awake, at the sound of my dad’s voice saying “Hi Coupche”, (a common term of endearment he had for me).

I SWEAR i heard it.  It was more like he was in the room and I was sleeping, not that he said it in my dream.

I was startled but not scared. My eyes shot open and each muscle in my body tightened. I froze to keep as still as possible, to listen. To listen because maybe I would hear it again.

I told my brother the story and he said that he hopes that Dad was there. I responded that I dont. I hope he’s having fun in heaven and not stuck watching me sleep.