I have received several calls and e-mails inquiring as to why I have not posted a new journal in the past few weeks; worried that I am okay. I do appreciate you reaching out to me, and it makes me happy to know that so many people read my posts and that you look forward to them. This journal has grown and spread so much due to you – thank you.

Italy to visit Nicole. A wonderful trip.

I am doing okay – actually pretty good. The last post took a lot of emotion and breaking through walls to write, and I received a tremendous number of private e-mails and comments after the post. I thought I would take a couple of weeks off after that to re-center myself, get my thoughts together, and start to write again. I have done that, my mind has cleared and received a sort of re-boot, and I have learned that I have so much more to write about.

I have a few journals started. Welcoming advice to newly bereaved parents, what parents do to help deal with their loss – and does it help, a post about missing the person I was, and some other ideas. The next one to be published is about welcoming newly bereaved parents. As I write it, I don’t think it has the same emotional depth as my other writings, but I think it will help specific people who are dealing with issues that they think others have not; a more concise writing, but targeting to a very specific audience.

It warms my heart to see them smile.

Also, I have been working on setting up Andrew’s memorial foundation. We are filing for a NY state corporation and then the IRS charitable designation. Hopefully, with the right help and a little luck, we can get this done in the next few months. I am working on getting Never Forget Andrew published into a book. I think it would be a very thoughtful gift to those who are grieving, as well as a legacy that will last forever for Andrew.

One day, those who knew him will be gone. I will be gone and my love for my son will be no more. The memories of Andrew will not be in anyone’s head anymore. There will be no proof he was ever here, or that he was loved by so many and that he touched so many. This book, once published, will be read by others, and hopefully, long after we are all gone, someone will say “Andrew was a wonderful person, I am sorry I never got to meet him.”