Saturday Morning Message: To Continue Traditions or Not?

Good Morning,

Sometimes it is comforting to go to a place that was special to you and your loved one. This is a photo of Lake Tahoe sent by a survivor, Debbie, spouse of Tom, for inclusion in an earlier Saturday Morning Message. She wrote, “Lake Tahoe will always be my happy place and its magic holds the most incredible memories of joy, happiness and true love that never will die.”

Responses from Survivors to last week's question

What is something you did with your loved one that you continue to do? 

From Kelsey, mother of Michael: My son and I watched “Doctor Who” together. I continue to watch it now. Sometimes with my grandson, his nephew. I feel close to him while watching.

From Sandra, mother of Joshua: I still go out to eat at Casarez. When my son played football, he and his buddies would go out to eat at Casarez after practice. All of the boys were on a budget and they could buy a foot-long burrito with rice and beans, chips and salsa and a giant iced tea for an affordable price. Josh took his daddy and me out to eat at Caserez and it quickly became our favorite Mexican restaurant. My husband and I still eat there. It is bittersweet.

From Elizabeth, spouse of Joseph: My husband Joe was about the only one in the family who liked lima beans. He insisted on us having succotash on Thanksgiving, so we had "do it yourself”; one bowl of corn and another of lima beans. He, his sister and one of our daughters made the combination. The rest of us just had corn. Our daughter, Maria, got married Thanksgiving weekend, 2012. The buffet included traditional succotash.

From Leslie, mother of Eugene: I thought about your question for a couple of days. My son and I had different interests except for cooking. I had recipes from relatives that I shared with him. I no longer cook those things, because it’s painful to think that he should be by my side telling me how I’m doing things wrong when it’s me who taught him.

From Laura, daughter of James: Dad always had amazing gardens...vegetables and flowers, fruit trees and berry bushes. We would walk around the yard and look at them all and talk. That's also how I learned to identify fruits and vegetables growing up. As the cancer took hold of dad, the gardens went by, the walks got shorter; but the walks continue now that dad is gone. When family members come over, we walk in the yard and talk. Whether it is here, a family member’s house or at Mom's, you will find somebody doing a "yard walk”. 

If you would like to send a message thanking one or all of those who participated in this week’s Saturday Morning Message, send it to online@taps.org and your thoughts will be passed along to them. You never know how your words may touch the heart of another.

Question for Next Week’s Saturday Morning Message 

Is there a special gift or present your loved one gave you?

Perry, father of Christopher, sent the next question which is: Is there a special gift or present your loved one gave you? Tell us something about it and share a picture if you would like. We look forward to your responses.

The Saturday Morning Message was created so survivors can share questions and read how others respond. Questions for future messages are always welcome. You can reply to this message or email online@taps.org In order to have your reply included the following week, it is best to send your response by Tuesday morning. Thank you to everyone responding this week and those who read this message.

♫ Song for the Week

This week’s song was sent by Anne, mother of Michael and wife of John. It is "God Bless the USA" sung by Lee Greenwood, Home Free and The Singing Sergeants. Anne writes, “I love our country so much that when I hear that song it always brings tears to my eyes. The USA is the greatest country and I am proud to be an American!”

You can send me favorite songs for this song of the week section at online@taps.org and include a note about why the song is meaningful to you.

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