A Poem for Mimi
Our dear, sweet Mimi, it's been a year
and you're still bringing us comfort, drying our tears.
I know you're in heaven, up above
looking down on us, and sending your love.
-
-
Today, I remember your sweet spirit
and your loving ways
hoping I can be like you
until my dying days
You'll never be forgotten Mimi,
I can just close my eyes and see
you sitting in your chair smiling
waiting there for me.
You had such a long life,
so many others have much less.
I knew it was your time when the angels came
and took you to be with the best.
So sweet Mimi up above,
although you're no longer here,
In my heart and mind is where I'll keep you,
so you'll always be very near
-- Candy Duggan Rogers
Letter from Karen Green
(excerpt)
It's snowing outside this morning and as I sit here reflecting upon the events of this past year I realize that today is the anniversary of our sweet Mimi's funeral and burial and the memories of her life come rushing back... She loved her family more than life itself and we loved her right back! I really believe that she's lent a helping hand in gently nudging us from the other side to plan and organize our upcoming Duggan Family Reunion this summer! Wouldn't she be excited about the flurry of emails and phone calls back & forth from Utah to Tennessee to Idaho?
Her home was THE gathering place; A place where everyone was welcomed and well-fed. No tummy ever went away hungry if Mimi had anything to do with it! She always insisted on feeding anyone who wandered in and her biscuits and cornbread tasted better than just about any dessert you could put in your mouth. She knew how to make "home" the place you wanted to be and what a great legacy she has left to us in creating that longing, that desire for home, and we, in turn, want to perpetuate that longing in our children and grandchildren so that they too will turn their hearts toward home...
I wanted to include a special poem that Uncle Larry sent me several months before Mimi passed away that I shared at the end of her Eulogy entitled, "The Dash"...
THE DASH
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters most is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard... are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left. (You could be at "dash" mid-range!)
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your Eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash?
Letter from Tammy Gentry
15 January 2010
Good morning. I just wanted to take a minute to share with you some of my thoughts this morning.
As I prepared to leave home this morning, I opened the coat closet to choose a coat to wear. Wrapped in plastic from the dry cleaners was the dark green all-weather coat that had belonged to Mimi Duggan. Even though I had it dry cleaned shortly after her passing, I had never worn it. I took it from the closet, took it into my bedroom, and removed the plastic. After zipping the lining into it, I placed it on my body and buttoned it up. The rose colored scarf I was wearing today looked quite nice with the coat.
Now it was time to run out the door. Kevin (my almost 10-year-old) and I got in the car and headed for his school. After dropping him off, I noticed the silence in the car and the coat I was wearing. Tears came to my eyes. How could a coat do this to me? You see...you have to realize something. I did not have the wonderful opportunity that so many of you had as young children. I did not get to spend time with Mimi, baking chocolate chip cookies or whatever the day held. I feel as though I missed out on so much. I did, however, as an adult, acquire a love and appreciation for our Mimi. For that I am thankful.
I share this with you today to give you something to think about. Are you doing all you can to show the people around you that you love them? Are you building special memories? What about that someone that should be a part of your life, yet you haven't included them as you should? It isn't too late to start today; maybe you should reach out to someone.
God has blessed us all very greatly with wonderful people around us. Don't waste another day without sharing the love that we have all so richly been given.
with love,
Tammy
