Memories Of Past Christmases LOSS OF LOVED ONES CAN MAKE HOLIDAY SEASON MORE SAD

Much of the news last week was focused on a year before when on Dec. 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, 20, fatally shot 20 children and six adult staff members in a mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

While this tragedy is still sad and it had to be hard on the parents and family members especially at this time of year and still is this year on its anniversary, we should also remember those in this area who have lost loved ones recently and through this year.

Many families have lost loved ones, perhaps not in as great a national tragedy that captures the news as much as the mass killing at Newtown did, but losing someone in any tragic way — especially young people — is so very difficult. And I know this very well because of losing my 17- year- old granddaughter on March 6, 2011.

That, too, made the news. It was the first time I had been on the other side of a tragic story that was printed in newspapers and made television news.

Nine teenagers were partying in a double-wide trailer on a lake near Fort Worth. The trailer caught fire about 6 a.m., when most of the kids were asleep including Alexis, my lovely granddaughter. Only three of them made it out. Alex wasn’t one of them. It was finally determined that wiring was probably the cause of the fire that consumed the trailer.

The story ran on FOX News, CNN and we even heard it was picked up and printed in several papers in other states, including Mississippi, where her grandfather lives.

So those who have lost a loved one or loved ones, who have made the news — I understand the tragedy of the loss and knowing the story is broadcast and printed for all to see and read.

We had to do our best to keep my son, her father, from seeing CNN reports that showed the horrible picture of the trailer.

To this day, it’s still a tragedy none of us have recovered from and I doubt we ever will. There’s rarely a day goes by that I don’t think of my precious granddaughter and at this time of year it is very difficult — especially for her parents and her grandparents.

There are the memories of all those Christmases from when she was a little girl to the teenage years — the smiles when she opened her presents. The absolute joy when it was something she wanted real badly. Years of memories, years of photos — she’s everywhere still and yet nowhere. So very sad.

Sure, life goes on after a time but it is never the same. I have learned there is no such thing as closure. That is a much overused word that means very little.

It’s also sad to lose parents and grandparents, who might have lived a long life but won’t be around for the first time after so many past Christmases.

My family and I do our best to keep up our spirits during this time of year though. It’s hard but we can usually do it because of my 12-year-old grandson, who also lost a sister.

Christmas is a time to share, keep making holiday memories and enjoy family time and lovingly remember those loved ones whom we have lost, whether to tragedy or not.

My thoughts are with all families in this area who have lost loved ones this year and even years past, especially those who have died young and had so much life yet to live.