Memorial Day

As we approach Memorial Day many things come to mind but at the forefront of my mind is our beloved Mariana. No she never served in our nation’s Armed Forces but she had the privilege of being buried in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. How might you ask is this possible if she was never a veteran as only veterans are allowed to be buried in a national cemetery or the veteran’s spouse. Well there is one loop hole that my husband Keith and I found out the hard way: You have a child that passes away and they get the privilege of being buried there if they are still your dependant (I believe under the age of 18).

Our daughter was only 8 ½ years old when she passed away. Who ever thought that a little bacteria could be so deadly. Not Keith and I. Well we found out the hardest way anyone could ever find out when our daughter contracted E-coli 0157:H7. No, technically the E-coli did not kill her but it is what the E-coli did to her little body that ultimately took her life (to read more about her story, click here).

But I am off track. Memorial Day is a day to remember those loved ones we have lost. In other words, to preserve the memory of them. To remember them always. This is a special day. I don’t think it is a day any of really want to have as this means we have lost a loved one. I know I don’t. I would much rather have MarMar here than just the memory of her and remembering how she used to be but that is all that is left are our memories.

All of us remember Mari somewhat the same but all of also remember her a bit differently from one another. Obviously for Keith and me she is at the forefront of our minds. The other spectrum is those that barely knew her but still remember her with such fondness. This is how she continues to live on in all of our lives. My true desire is that the light of Mari, the flame that she once had alive, will continue to live on for many years pass her short time on this earth.

We have a friend who was going out to the cemetery anyway and wanted to know if we would like her to put anything on her grave since Memorial Day is tomorrow. We were so grateful that she called and asked as Keith and I cannot go as we live too far away now. Here is a picture of the flowers and pinwheel that she put on her grave. The flag must have been put there by the cemetery as you can see there are flags in front of all the other cemetery markers as well.

Memorial Day is simply special as I know she will never be forgotten.

We miss you baby girl and Mommy loves you very much.

Love Mommy

Then it hits ya

Since moving here to Kentucky, I have fell in love with a program on the Style Channel. The program is called Clean House. If you have never seen it before, they take people who are clutter fanatics (and man there are some that are so nasty) and help them clean out the clutter, sell the stuff in a yard sale and then give them a makeover in the rooms they cleared out.

Well, they have a couple of shows that came from the original called Clean House: Search for the Messiest House in the Country and Clean House Comes Clean. Clean House Comes Clean is more of the outtakes and stuff they did not show in the original episode aired.

Well tonight I was watching the Comes Clean one and they had a baby episode one where there were parents who were expecting a new baby. The second couple in the episode ended up having a baby on July 16, 2008. I was completely taken aback. For those of you who don’t know, that is the EXACT day Mari passed away.


Over the years I think we all hear about how one life ends and another begins. Well, this was like a slap in the face. My baby girl’s life ended and this new little one’s started. I know that there are going to be many other babies that happened to be born on that day as well but this was a baby that was tangible. They even showed pictures of the new little one and then showed an updated with the baby now being about a year and a half old.

I was amazed I did not cry. It’s just strange how at any moment you can have something that brings it all back to the forefront.

I love you baby girl and mommy misses you very much.
Love Mommy