Nothing was more sacred to my husband Mike than picking out the Christmas tree. Now we don’t have high ceilings and not much space but he always picked the biggest fattest tree. Of course we laughed and laughed while he struggled to get it to fit. Then the wait till the branches fell before he would put on the lights.

Mike would sit for hours under the Christmas tree just enjoying the season of lights. Hope and love.
I put up the tree again without you as I continue to honor all the things you enjoyed. And yes, I ordered more Christmas lights because you always said there wasn’t enough.

My brother Johnny and I always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve–a German tradition. Our father had many hobbies and one of his favorites was HO-Gauge model railroading. We always had a train circling our Christmas tree. It enabled such great entertaining and imaginative play for us for many years at Christmastime. It was magical and captivating.

In our basement, our dad had an extensive train set on a huge table that we played with throughout the year and at Christmas. We loved all the model trains but also the ability to create entire miniature worlds with homes, stores, mountains, towns, people , trees, and rivers. These train sets were a lifelong passion of my dad and Johnny. They passed on their appreciation for this hobby to my 2 children into their adulthood, creating lasting memories for our entire family.

Family … we loved, we laughed, we celebrated. Milestones, accomplishments, birthday, holidays; you were always there. Present and embracing, encouraging and loving, filling every room with your laughter, your hugs, your stories.

Then November 28, 2020 came … and time stopped. Life forever changed.

Yet your unconditional love has carried me through these five years; and I know it will continue to carry me in all the days ahead.

Gary Alan Woodward … My forever love … Never to be forgotten.

Thanksgiving is here again. For many, it will be their first celebration with a vacant place at the dinner table. For some of us who lost a cherished loved one to COVID-19, it might be the sixth such Thanksgiving. That’s the case for me, another celebration without my partner, Jody.

I remember that when Thanksgiving 2020 approached, there was a lull in the ongoing global pandemic that led many Americans to head home for traditional family gatherings, if only as a respite from the isolation they had been experiencing throughout the year.

At that time, there was an effort called “The Empty Chair” which served to remind people in the U. S. that many would be filled with a sense of grief at their holiday celebrations. I remember during dinner at my sister’s home we continued to set a place for Jody at the table. It was intended to remind us of his absence. As we shared our meal, that solitary plate provoked memories of Thanksgivings past with Jody as we shared our favorite Jody stories.

In recent years, we have continued to remember Jody as we enjoy our family time together. A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a clip of an old Bob Hope holiday program. Hope always ended his shows with his trademark song, “Thanks for the Memory.” It made me realize that while the dish on the table may be empty, the chair is full of memories of a life well lived.

And so, I share a snippet of the lyrics from the conclusion of the song to keep in your heart as you celebrate this Thanksgiving.

Strictly entre nous,
Darling, how are you?
And how are all
Those little dreams
That never did come true?
Awfully glad I met you,
Cheerio and toodle-loo
Thank you,
Thank you so much.

Thanks for the memory (1938)
 Ralph Rainger (composer)
 Leo Robin (lyricist)

They say time heals, but today my heart still feels the ache. Fifty years ago today, Gary and I said “I Do”, promising our unconditional love for the rest of our lives. The memories of his love have carried me forward every single day; and they will continue to guide me in all the days ahead. Gary is my Forever Love. November 22, 1975 we became One. Miss you Babe … Jacque