and he still posts.....

Remember that this is therapy for me as it has been since October of 2005 and may continue to be for some time to come.

Trish was laid to rest yesterday. Her Mass was incredible. The church was full and everything was just right. I didn't realize it, but our friends who I asked to read at Mass were coupled in our wedding party. I knew the were in our wedding party, but didn't realize that they were each other's escorts for the service until the reminded me. I couldn't have planned that if I tried. At the end of this post, I will include the readings we used during Mass and the lyrics for THE SONG (Here, There and Everywhere), as well as some pictures that Trish's cousin Rick took. I also hope to have the tri-fold recipe sheet the funeral home made available for download on the website earl this week.

Our son, Andy, spoke during the Mass. He not only memorialized his mother, but assured everyone that she was in a better place and that she wanted everyone to celebrate her life and not be sad. My wife and sons are amazing people.

I spoke briefly (big surprise to everyone). I told no stories (happy or sad) about my beautiful bride. I did what I knew she would want me to do. As simply as I could, I said thank you. So for those who missed it at Mass: Thank you. Thank you for your prayers, your good cheer, your financial support, your friendship and now thank you for your memories and support as we begin a new, harder life, without the lady that has guided and held us together for over 19 years.

Our house is filled with and surrounded by flowers today. I wanted to bring them back to the house, so that our guests could enjoy them, and only left a few at the cemetary.

Now I must focus on moving back into my house and continuing. Trish was a very practical person. She dealt with adversity head on. She spent no time in self-pity and very little in sorrow. She knew how to pick up and move on when it was needed. I now must ask her to help me learn how to do the same.

If you would like to sign the online guestbook, it will remain active through Nov. 20th, please try to do so before than. I am printing these up with the
emails we have received and creating a book along with all the cards.

Also, if you would like to attend one of the South Florida masses being said in Trish's honor, I have posted a list of local mass dates and times and churches (look for link on left).

Funeral Mass Readings

A reading from the book of Proverbs:

When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.
She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.
She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.
She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.
She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.
Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:
"Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

This is the word of the Lord.
---
A Reading from the second letter of Timothy

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

This is the word of the Lord.
---------
From the Gospel of Matthew:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.
"No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 17
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, 19 and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

This is the Gospel of the Lord
----------------

Here, There and Everywhere

To lead a better life I need my love to be here...
Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny that there's something there
There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking but she doesn't know he's there
I want her everywhere and if she's beside me
I know I need never careBut to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there
I want her everywhere and if she's beside me
I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there
To be there and everywhere
Here, there and everywhere

……..John Lennon, Paul McCartney

A word about this song. In the 9th grade, I wrote an essay on this song for an English class. It has always been a song I liked. I even listed it as my favorite song in my Hgh School yearbook (didn't realize, but saw it recently). Until Trish came into my life, this song never had meaning for me. More something to hope for, strive for, but now the words are very real and meaningful and ingrained in my soul.