I think it's normal and healthy to acknowledge the death of someone who meant a lot to you by doing something special on the day they died. We do this for Aaron on that day and on his birthday. The week he was in the hospital then the day he died is hard for a lot of us. We tend to relive that week. But the hardest part is reliving the moments up until his heart monitor flat lined, when we who were in the room, knew he had passed from a hospital bed in McHenry to the streets of gold in Heaven.
We had gotten through the first year but not without scrapes and bruises. One of my nieces was having an extremely difficult time. My nephews were unsure of who they were without their brother around. Aaron's parents were as expected. I don't remember much except I was being hospitalized. I managed to stay sober.
In 2009 & 2010 we wrote messages, put them inside the balloons and released them near his lilac bush.
In 2011 & 2012 we wrote messages on balloons and let them go (Aaron's Dad).
In 2013 we lit sky lanterns.
Some we have purchased and some have been given to us in memory of Aaron.
I think Aaron's sisters are the ones with the lit lanterns: Hope, Samantha and Alicia. All of us were there: Aaron's Dad, StepMom, Aunts Amy and Tracy, Uncle Bill, Brothers Joe, Jonny and Ryan, cousins Chelsea and Neena and Grandmas Kathie and Carol. Some friends came over, too. I remember it being the first time all of us were together since the funeral. Ryan was playing Fireflies by Owl City out of his maxed out speakers. This might have been the year the police came by to ask us to turn down the music or it was the next year.
2014 we did helium balloons.
Aaron's Bro, Jonny with Aaron's sister Alicia
his daughter, Skye and with Skye
his Grandma Kathie and
Aunt Tracy.
2015 - This year we lit sky lanterns again.
I shot a couple of pics and the video down below. I wanted to capture this night so that our family and friends would be able to share in it . Even though this is a sad time, when you see this video, I think you'll agree that it's a way for us to heal - little Skye brings laughter and excitement which is what her Uncle Aaron would do if he was here with us.
