Sunday 25th December
Merry Christmas my dearest, darling boy
Wishing you were here to share in all the joy
The second festive season without you
Holding onto memories of a love so true.
I wrote this last year…..
Dec25
Category Archives: Florida Keys
Dec24
Eve of Christmas
Saturday 24th December
Christmas Eve
I still grieve
Can’t believe
You did leave.
Second year
You’re not here
Festive cheer
Shed a tear.
Angel son
Forever young
xxxxxx
Dec23
Taking in the view
Friday 23rd December
Thinking of you
As we always do
Trying not to feel blue
Taking in the view
Hoping we’ll get through
With tears so few
And a love so true
When to heaven you flew.
Dearest darling Angel son.
xxxxxx
Dec22
Sitting on the end of the pier
Thursday 22nd December
Sitting on the end of the pier
Waiting for the sun to go down
Was it you that I felt so near?
Your presence seems all around.
Wish you were here my Angel son
To watch the sky’s changing colours
Waiting expectantly my loved one
Marvelling at nature’s wonders.
Thinking of you tonight
Moon and back
xxxxxx
Looks like an Angel bird in flight
Beautiful colours tonight
A wonderful sight
Dec21
Robbies
Wednesday 21st December
We like Robbies. You liked Robbies. A fun place to eat, right on the water, watching pelicans, egrets and giant tarpon, as well as people messing about on boats.
We left Marathon this morning, making our way up to Islamorada, where we will be based for the next three weeks. On the way we stopped off at the Hungry Tarpon for the best tuna tacos ever.
We miss you my darling, so very much.
Thinking of you as always.
Love you forever
Treasured Angel son
xxxxxx
Your Grinch came to lunch with us
Dad and I at Robbies
Pelicans
Tarpon, waiting to be fed
Pelicans lined up hoping to catch some fish being fed to the tarpon
I’m renting this boat
Robbies Christmas tree
Tall and twisted palm tree
Dec20
Retail therapy
Tuesday 20th December
We were on the road to Miami early this morning for some retail therapy at the Dolphin Mall. You loved shopping here and would head off to the bookstores, toy shops and entertainment outlets, always checking back with us every so often, then meeting up at lunchtime at the food court.
Yes, it did feel strange to walk about without you, not having to look over shoulders, or keep a beady eye open for you. Never becoming lost or feeling unsafe, you would be on a mission to buy something, anything, so that you had a new book to read, a film to watch or songs to listen to.
We do miss you, we can’t seem to stop thinking about you, and what you would do, or say, especially when we return to places where we all used to go as a family. I suppose that is normal, and won’t ever change. Yes there’ll be new places to explore, ones that you haven’t been to, but we do enjoy going back and revisiting locations that we shared with you.
Love you sweetheart
Hope you still enjoy retail therapy up in heaven
Precious Angel son.
xxxxxx
A sunny drive along the Overseas Highway this morning to Miami
Your Grinch came along for the ride too
Dusk as we drove back, with the sky reflected in the car’s bonnet
Dec19
What shall we do today?
Monday 19th December
“What shall we do today?”
That’s what you’d always ask, every single morning, whether we were on holiday or not. You had to know what was being planned, where we were going: your itinerary.
So today I had a look on TripAdvisor, and the #1 place to visit in Marathon is the Turtle Hospital. I think you would have liked the guided tour of the various holding pools for rescued and rehabilitating turtles. Perhaps the one named Donatello would make you smile, as you did enjoy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I’m sure you would have giggled at the strangely named ‘Bubble Butt Syndrome’, caused after a collision with a boat, when the back end of the turtle floats and will not submerge due to trapped air and nerve damage.
We saw many green turtles, from hatchlings to full sized ones, an enormous leatherback turtle, and a shy hawksbill. A great way to spend a morning, learning about the work of the hospital, conservation, rehabilitation and the environment in which these animals live. I think you would have approved.
From here we drove south to Bahia Honda state park and spent a couple of hours on the beach, and paddling in the water. It really was incredibly hot; many parts of the States may be freezing cold, being snowed upon, but here beneath the palm trees it was glorious. You would have been swimming, or exploring the foreshore, running back to us to report on the large green iguanas that you had seen.
We hope you liked the places we went to today. You were with us in spirit I’m sure; at every twist and turn, on each corner, round every bend, you’re there.
Love you so much sweetheart.
Dearest Angel son.
xxxxxx
A green turtle called Sam
Thurston the green turtle
Bahia Honda, oceanside
Bahia Honda, bayside
Bahia Honda today. Seagrass, turnstones and blue skies
You and Dad, August 2013
August 2013 at Bahia Honda
You, having fun at the beach
Dec18
Beneath the palms
Sunday 18th December
Finding shade beneath the palms
The sun glints off water in the pool
Quietly peaceful, a perfect afternoon
Ice cold drinks, trying to keep cool.
You’d jump in, splash about and swim
A cheeky grin spread across your face
Finding pleasure in simple things
I know you’re up there someplace.
So close to us, right by our sides
At times, I think you’re still here
If I close my eyes and try real hard
On the next sunbed, you’ll appear.
And so, my splashing little Angel
Enjoy playing in the pools of heaven
Swimming underwater like a fish
The fun you have will never lessen.
Love you Angel
Dearest darling son.
xxxxxx
Beside the pool
Sunset over the dock
Dec17
A warm breeze
Saturday 17th December
A warm breeze
Through the trees
Day to seize
Pain to ease.
Bright sunshine
Still shoreline
Angel mine
Love divine.
Sparkling sea
Flying free
Wish you’d be
Here with me.
xxxxxx
Dec15
Key West
Thursday 15th December
Such a pretty drive along the Overseas Highway, fifty miles south to Key West. On the left hand side of the road is the Atlantic ocean, and on the right, the Gulf of Mexico.
We have been here on a number of occasions, each time with you, my darling. So today we tried to explore a little more, rather than simply retracing our usual steps. We didn’t eat in our normal spot, (where you really enjoyed the chocolate dipped strawberries, drizzled with chantilly cream), but did have a cold drink on Sunset Pier, where we have sat together, many, many times.
The palm trees were wrapped with fairy lights, street lamps beribboned to look like candy canes, and various decorated Christmas trees were dotted about.
Missing you sweetheart
Thinking of you so much
Blowing kisses to heaven
Love you forever
xxxxxx
Key West Christmas tree
A nautical tree
This one made from fishing floats
Under the shade on Sunset Pier, looking towards the Enchantment of the Seas
You and Dad on Sunset Pier, January 2007
You and I on Sunset Pier
Street lamps looking festive
Dressed for the season
Dinner at Burdines
You, at Burdines, December 2006
The Journey of My Left Foot (whilst remembering my son) 