2 minutes
This short video shows you some of Charles’ personality. We were baking a cake together.
I do so miss this bubbly, fun child and when I look at these, I see no indication of what was to come. We were such a normal family. We went to parks and read books. We played games and went to the beach. I do enjoy these videos even though there are tears. Four years after Charles’ addiction and suicide, these offer more joy now than sadness and I’m grateful to have them.
Thanks to my editor in LA, the kid named Richard on the left, we were able to get this VHS footage off of the mini dvds and saved digitally.
Precious video of Richard, Charles, you and your Husband. It made me smile- it’s these happy moments that validates what we lost.
That’s true. It’s a good reminder.
They are so, so precious. Yes, I am so grateful for the video we have. They are so very painful to watch. When I watch them, it is a scheduled thing where I am doing it to be with my son and also knowing I will be spending quite a spell with my grief. (((((((HUGS)))))))
I have gone from avoiding these to binging them over and over. Those little words ring in my ears.
So cute. What an adorable memory. You are so strong. I still cannot do that 7 years later.
I will say that having written a book has given me more strength. The first one I watched triggered me and I left them alone for a while. The second one I watched–waterfall of tears and a “what went wrong?” kind of day. But now I can watch them.
You were able to read right away. I could not. I couldn’t listen to music for almost a year. ANY music. So I think what we can and cannot expose ourselves to varies a lot. One day you will be ready. And that day does not have to be today.