The 12th of Forever

The observance of anniversaries can be a peculiar thing. Whenever a "major" or "significant" event occurs, especially something that the media gets to talk about for days upon end, the countdown begins to when they can tell everyone about the first anniversary of such-and-such. Then, the "story" goes away until perhaps the 5th or 10th anniversary of the event, and only reappears (if deemed significant enough) on so-called "milestone" anniversaries such as the 25th, 40th, etc.

No one, other than perhaps those directly involved the the occurrence, marks the anniversaries in between, those unremarkable numbers such as the 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 11th, etc. that are just not "worthy" enough to generate buzz.

If the event is a happy one, only the milestone anniversaries get a numbered Hallmark card. If they are sad events, Hallmark is not an option.

Johnny Mathis had a hit song in the late 1950s entitled "The 12th of Never", in which he stated his love for another would last "until the 12th of Never, and that's a long, long, time."

For our family, this date could be called "The 12th of Forever", for it was on this date nine years ago that we cruelly and terribly lost our Dearest Kelley in a manner most foul.

Today is that "unremarkable" ninth anniversary of her death, though each day that passes is an "anniversary" of sorts for me. Despite the march of time and the ongoing "new normal" for us, she is always near to mind. The immediacy of the pain has lessened, but it never goes away. Dear Wife and I both often wonder what she would be doing now. We do know that she would be a devoted aunt to her nephew and niece, our grandchildren.

We have been pleased beyond measure that Wonderful Daughter and her husband are raising their children to know who their Aunt Kelley was, as WGGS#1 oft times points out her picture and tells us who it is. "Aunt Kelley is in heaven with Jesus", we are told.

Nine years ago she became Forever 18, which is why I think of that date as The 12th of Forever.

Requiescat in pace, Dearest Kelley.

We love you and miss you more each day.