My late sister Kim, in December 2005, with her dog Fenny (Fenster).
I normally don't post photos of anyone's kids, but this has already been put on Facebook, so...
It's just a photo of a photo. Kim and her son Ethan. He's an amazing kid, and she should be here with him, but she can't be, except in spirit.
I think about my late sister Kim almost every day, and about other important people (and cats) that we've lost, too. I don't seem to be getting any better at dealing with grief. Seriously, I'm not trying to dwell on it. I'm just sharing my struggles, hoping that other people who are having the same trouble will realize that they are not alone.
I do keep finding out, in these recent years, that grief doesn't go away. It's just something that we live with.
Life will never be the same, and we have no choice but to go on as best we can. There is no solution or remedy for the pain. It's just always there.
One thing I know is that we need to find ways to keep busy. It's especially good if we can find things to do that are meaningful and have a good purpose, though I admit that many times I just want distractions, like playing video games.
Another thing to do is to turn to those you love, though if they've suffered the same loss, or other deep and profound losses of their own, they have their own pain to deal with. Sometimes we are all in such pain from our grief or other problems that we don't seem to be able to do much to help each other.
I always want to help my loved ones, both older and younger, with their emotional pain, but usually the only thing I can do is to be there for them. I guess that has to be enough, when there is nothing else to do.