Mike knew I loved fresh flowers. And he brought me flowers for every occasion: my birthday, our anniversary, Mother’s Day, and every holiday. But the most precious and meaningful ones were brought home to me “just because.”

“I love you, I’m thinking of you, it’s the 1st day of spring, looking forward to our weekend, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, bringing you some sunshine on this rainy day, I miss our snuggles, I’m sorry I hurt you, I miss you when we are apart, please come home safely to me, hope these brighten your day, forgive me, missed our phone chat today, let’s save some time for us this weekend” … and so many others that I can’t remember.

I have the very first card that came with a dozen red roses when we were dating six months until the last one he gave me on our 48th wedding anniversary on 8/5/2020. I never thought Mike would be gone in three months. I don’t know what inspired me to save these little cards over the years. When I counted them after he died there were over 440 of them. His love for me written down in 15-20 words or less “just because” and most of them signed with his signature sign-off: “Love always, Your Michael.”

My Michael, I’ll love you forever in my heart. We have lived out our vows to each other. Thank you for asking me to share this journey through life with you,
Your Gracie

My Dad knew how much I loved doing The NYTimes Sunday crossword puzzle at his house, always in ink. Every time I visited, there was sure to be a pile of the Sunday NYT magazine section. On the crossword page he always wrote something … like “Love, Dad” … or “Baby Carol.”

After he died, I didn’t think I would ever do it again, that it would be too painful. But then I realized that he would not want me to give up something I loved because of him. So I do the puzzle every day and think about him the whole time. I love you Dad and miss you so much.

I lost my beautiful, strong mommy on 2/17/21 to COVID-19. She was my best friend in the whole wide world. I’m completely lost without her. She was the best mother and grandmother in the world. Nothing is the same anymore.

She used to call us (my kids & me) every birthday and sing to us in her own special way. She loved holidays and now we never feel like celebrating. We miss her more than anything in this world.

Michael would say: “I got another atta boy today.” So silly since I am doing a job I love. Nurse.

My father loved crossword puzzles. When I came into my parents’ apartment, I had to see not only his handwriting but also the last crossword puzzle he had filled out — the phrases that he had written (his unique handwriting) — I was also grasping for straws. I needed to be the closest I would ever get to goodbye, to his last words that I never had …

What I saw stunned me!

The last thing that he had written was actually a motto, a maxim, a saying that was completed from individual letters assigned to numbers scattered throughout the completed crossword puzzle. It read: “With Bravery Stands Happiness”

… his last words that I needed, written by him, by his hand and left now to me …