We haven’t really started any “grief rituals” yet to honor our Rosie girl, but we have given a lot of thought to some of the things that we’d like to do. One thing we know for sure is that we’d like to have an event every year around her birthday. I want to bring people together like we would if she was still alive to celebrate her and all the light and love she brought to our lives. We want to also utilize it as an opportunity to raise money for the foundation that can support a cause that we’re passionate about in Rosie’s name. A birthday gift from Rosie of sorts – to make an impact on those children in need.
This year, on her birthday weekend – we are organizing a Tough Mudder event with friends and family. We thought this would be a perfect innagural event for the foundation because it’s a fun way to bring people together and because our Rosie was so tough. She was fast and strong and never let things get in her way!
We’ve also discussed potentially doing something around Christmastime as well – not necessarily another big event, but maybe a toy drive or Christmas tree lighting or just something in the community that can give people an opportunity to give back. Charlie and I personally want to sponsor a child each Christmas – and give the gifts we would’ve purchased for Rose to a child less fortunate.
I’m sure as time goes by – we’ll have more concrete ideas of how we want to honor her and the rituals we want to set into place. But right now we’re more focused on getting the foundation set up and the platforms in place to communicate the different events we want to throw. The goal of all of this is to continue her spirit and make her proud by doing good in her name.
On a more personal level – we have some rituals in our family already. Going to the cemetery to visit Rosie, praying to “Saint Rosie” before meals, and spending some time each day to look at pictures are some of the ways we grieve her and keep her alive in our home, in our hearts and in our minds.