A Little Red - with Sparkles

The bench was lonely. I could not stand it.                                                 The town was all decked out and beautifully lit for Christmas.

Roger's bench has been empty every time I have driven by Allen's - for as long as I can remember.

That day, it was more than I could take. Roger loved Christmas, after all. He loved the decorations, the special treats, the children laughing. He loved it all.  Lonely and sad was never a part of his vocabulary.

He sat on this bench a lot. He sat on it every time he went out for a run. He sat on it one last time on February 10.  Actually, less than 15 minutes before he departed for Eternity.

He observed things around him, he waved to friends who passed by, he was at the ready to help others if needed. He kept an eye on the comings and goings in Windermere from his bench, or from his swing, or from his crazy little 'beater car." Always on the ready.

It could not look sad and lonley - not at Christmas time!  We fixed that!  Fresh greenery and bright red embellishments. And a love note, of course!

Yes - we are still sad - how can you not be when you lose someone you love, even when his presence is still all around you.

We miss him a lot a Christmas time.

But...we have to keep smiling, laughing, living.






The story was the same at First and Main.  This was on his regular run - well, the short run.  Last half, Allen's to the bridge and then home.  He made it to First Ave.

The little tree stood sad and alone. No embellishment, no reminder. The red ribbon was looking a little faded in the Florida sun - yes, even in December.

  

A little glitter and a little note was called for. Ah, how that makes everything better! 

Roger would have said this was nonsense - but a visual person just can't have it this way. 

His memory lingers. His love of Christmas - the entire season - lingers.  His laughter - I still hear it and hope it never ever fades. 

Roger's Lesson:  He would say that life goes on and it is great to have wonderful memories, but don't forget to make new ones for a new time.    In other words, don't stay stuck in the past. 

He never stayed stuck in the past. And I can only imagine that this is quite possibly his best Christmas ever.  I can sit and imagine him missing us - but in reality, I know that He is so absolutely involved in worshiping at the feet of Jesus, that time has no meaning and he is in the best place for all of eternity.  It is really hard to avoid longing to be there...now.  

But these two gifts from God are in the here and now, and Roger is right - make memories for every day of your earthly walk, because someone will need them later. 

Ro-Ro .....you were just the greatest!