Remembering

It was a bit of a shocker to realise that tomorrow is dad's anniversary. I have known it's coming, even sent mum a special card and spoke to Andy about flowers - which I promptly forgot to organise. Below is a poem I read at my aunt's funeral and just really like it, it's a tough balance but I'm getting there. Dad was and is a very special man:

Remembering

You can shed tears that he has gone,
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you cannot see him,
Or you can be full of the love that you have shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live for yesterday.
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember his and ache that he has gone,
Or you can cherish his memory and let him live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back;
Or you can do what he would want, smile , open your eyes, love and go on.

Attributed to Bishop Brent