It's been five years since my son Brendan died,
it took me a year to be able to say the word "died"
A year to look at his picture....
I've yet to look at his obituary, or a family video.

My loss has brought me so much closer to our Creator
As I pray for inner strength to survive, to live on each day.
I believe our Creator has blessed me, with a state of shock, sadness
and inner strength,
Not anger or bitterness.

To buffer me from the wrenching pain of the greatest loss a human
being can endure.
The Circle, that I've come to know, of The Compassionate Friends is
truly a blessing
Of Compassion, Support and Understanding friends.
My wife Barb, her support and understanding is a blessing.

I have come to understand what "Forever" on this Earth means,
"Forever" is hard, very hard....
Fills one with tears and the proverbial "Whys?"

"Forever" is so difficult for the bereaved to come to terms with
in our most difficult journey in grief.

Gene Caligari, Brendan's Dad

Taken from The Healing Garden, The Compassionate Friends S.B.Newsletter