I sit in the Hong Kong airport, and, somewhat hesitantly, open the folder of my photos of Patti. In the past, I avoided looking at these pictures unless I was willing to lose it, even wanted to lose it. I take a breath and I flip through the vacation pictures, the birthdays, Patti playing with Jack at three, at ten, at fifteen, hugging the dogs, hugging me.
I feel a smile grow, seeing my love, my friend as she was, as she is, full of warmth and fun, all good memories, not sad or heartbreaking but there in me, warming me, keeping me company so far from home, just like she always has. I miss her like I would have done on long journeys past, thinking of how she would feel about what I’m doing now, what she would have thought of the curried noodle chicken soup I had at the airport cafeteria. “Ew, sounds goobery, honey,” she would have said. “Hurry home. I miss you.”I miss you too, Pandy, I miss you a lot, but the thought of you deep inside me will help me keep on, keep happy, keep living. Our love is forever, no matter what happens, and now I feel like I might just cry, here in the Hong Kong flight club.
Danny Gregory 
Hello! I completely and totally understand your feelings. Thankyou for putting them into words. Enjoy Hong Kong
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How poignant to relive such enduring loss when the rest of the world is celebrating. At this holiday season, may you be comforted by both the pain and joy of Memory.
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Thank you Danny for all your comments and insights..
My husband died a year ago and Christmas is difficult. However, I live in a great Community and that helps. I think back over the all the Christmas celebrations and am grateful.
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Your postings about Patti are always heart wrenching, but also filled with gladness. I love the way you celebrate her life, what she meant to you and that you keep her close. Love IS eternal, it’s all that matters.
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Beautiful words.
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Isn’t that a great transition, from pain to warmth?
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I long for a button to like all these posts. Yours, the replies, the lot. I’m back at work today where I read your posts. “Pandy.” That’s sweet. Part of me hopes you will one day write a novel/movie script that possesses and transmits this same incredible, human warmth. The heart-wrenching sadness and the goodness that later flows from it. Wonderful life.
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