19

Ice cream cake, like the one we had for his 4th birthday. Sekai would have been 19 years old on October 8, 2012, were he still on this side. Happy birthday, Bootsie!

(Though the post is late, neither the sentiment nor the acknowledgement of his birthday were delayed.)

Three

...
(still no words)

Worldwide Candle Lighting 2011

Here is information about this year's events for The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting. The Worldwide Candle Lighting occurs every 2nd Sunday in December at 7pm local time, all around the world, so you may want to go ahead and mark your calendar now. *smile*

The Compassionate Friends Remembrance Book

Thank you to all who stood with me, literally and figuratively, on this day, when I felt so strongly the bittersweet paradox of being one of many who gathered to remember children gone too soon and yet one of a few who understand what this means and why we keep speaking about our children who are no longer here. Thank you to those who (thankfully, truly) really do not understand this space that some of us now occupy, but are still willing to help to shine the light, and to speak their names.

Remember
Sekai Ayinde
Amaya
Naim
Catie
Audrey
Katie
Stevie
Jamie
Mattie
Joshie
Oswald
Kibwe Ayinde
Remember...
please feel free to add a comment, post a name, or add a picture of your candle lighting.

18

Poem
by Langston Hughes

I loved my friend.
He went away from me.
There's nothing more to say.
The poem ends
Soft as it began-
I loved my friend.

This was included on the inside of the program for the funeral service for our family friend's son, Kibwe Ayinde, who crossed over on September 29 of this year. Rest in peace, Kib.

I, too, loved (still love) my friend, my son, Sekai Ayinde. Happy 18th birthday, Bootsie. I miss you so much.

Forever, I love you, always.