We wear your stuff

It’s strange - when someone you love passes away unexpectedly, you have the task ahead of you to go through their personal belongings.

It felt odd, like an intrusion of your privacy. I remember feeling like it was wrong, but at the same time it felt like your things were small pieces of you. Aside from our precious memories, these articles of earthly possessions were all that we had left to grasp onto in your absence.

These small treasures, by society standards aren’t worth much, but to us, they are invaluable. I think it must be because they are telling of who you were and your story. From local Harley Davidson store shirts, to all your service shirts - we each shared them, taking care to make sure those closest to you had articles of clothing or artifacts that evoked some memory for that person.

When you came home in 2017, I remember being excited to pick out a Christmas gift for the first time in years.. I bought you a shirt that would be a “welcome home” of sorts. It said Ohio Home Grown overtop of a giant corn on the cob. I thought it was perfect, and you must have too because I saw you wear it all the time, which made me smile. We were so glad to have you home.