Autumn has well and truly set in although we have moved from very warm days to very cold days and most things in-between. This particular week of October is a mixed emotional time for us. The 22nd is my parents Wedding Anniversary and last Sunday they were married 57 years. No big, expensive weddings back then; church and then for a hooley at the pub with good friends and family. I’m not sure this year that Mom took much notice of the anniversary. We chatted about the wedding, they talked about the guests, the dancing and going home to Ireland on honeymoon but this year Mom was not in the mood to sign the anniversary card for Dad. I just couldn’t seem to catch her at the right time to do this. However, she was more than happy with the Rose I arranged to send to Dad from her. Not that he minded not having the card of course, he was only too happy to have Mom with him. It was a happy Saturday together.
October 25th this year was the 11th anniversary of my Sister’s passing. It was sudden, a shock and I feel we all changed in some way almost immediately. She was on holiday in Cyprus with her husband, got a terrible headache and lay down and never came back to us. A massive sub arachnoid haemorrhage. I talk to her everyday, sometimes when times are tough I ask her why she left me to look after things all alone. Whenever she loved something, a book etc she would tell me it was magic. On the day she went to heaven I was standing watching out of the window waiting for my parents to arrive home. I quite clearly heard her say to me “it’s magic here Dawnie, it’s magic” and I answered by asking her why did she have to be the one who had to go there to find out. A minute later my niece telephoned to say my sister was gone.
Friday 27th, today, was to be my Graduation Ceremony at the beautiful Symphony Hall in Birmingham. My ceremony was to take place in the morning and I was stressed about this. I’m always at home in the morning to help with the getting up, the getting dressed, sorting out breakfast and keeping things on an even keel until things settled in the afternoon. Every email or text I received about the graduation made my tummy turn with anxiety. Even though I had arranged for the carer to be here, I knew, deep down I would be too stressed out to enjoy the day. I decided to defer until next year and hopefully I’ll get an afternoon slot. Wow, that feeling when a weight lifts off your shoulders, definitely the right decision. My boyfriend will still come over for the weekend, I’ll wear my new dress, I’ll drink fizz and we’ll go for our celebration meal…all being well.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
© @aurorasparkles
Dawn. The Sparkle Diaries. 
Hi sweet Dawn, your decision to defer the ceremony to next year says so much about your caring heart.. and I am so glad you will still take time with your boyfriend and wear your fancy dress ~ what color and style is it? ❤ How beautiful that your parents have such a long marriage and give their heart truly to one another. That is so rare these days! I'm sorry for the anniversary of your sister's passing but it means a lot that you honor her with your words here xx
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It was definitely the right decision, Mom had an all nighter on Thursday night so no sleep for me until 6 am – I’d never have made the ceremony for 9:30 am plus I’d have looked dreadful in an photo’s 😴
The dress is plain Black, V neck and semi fitted with a swirly skirt. A good buy it can be dressed up or down and I can wear it numerous times. Every girl needs an LBD 😉💖 xx
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Oh it does sound like a wise move to hold off on the ceremony so you can fully enjoy it another day. As for the dress, it sounds wonderful ~ a LBD is a wardrobe staple! I’ve had mine years and still wear it. Hugs ❤
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I am so sorry for your loss Dawn, and you have a beautiful angel watching over you and your parents. My sister died suddenly at 48 and I often brush her cheek on the picture of her I have on my dresser and tell her how much I miss her. She was supposed to grow old with me but I know God needed her to do other, more important things and I know she would love that. You are a selfless person Dawn and have a big heart. Your family is very blessed to have you with them.
Hugs!
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Ah Joan I’m so sorry to read about your loss of your Sister too. I sometimes look up to the sky and ask her why did she leave me with all this work but I know she is with me and guiding me and looking after us all from her home in heaven. I expect your Sister is doing the very same thing for you. Hugs to you too x
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