Wednesday, February 4, 2009

And So It Begins

I am borrowing today's post from one I just left on a website started by a friend of mine, Remembering Matt.
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"My dear friend Bryan Bunker started this blog as a place for people to remember Matt and make sure his CDs are still available to anyone who wants them. Months ago he asked if I wanted to write a post to kick it off. Lately I'm a little slow.
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Yesterday in the car I was listening to Along for the Ride, one of my personal favorites. I started thinking about Matt, about what an incredibly talented person he is, and I thought, "How can someone as dynamic as Matt be walking around on this planet with the rest of us one day and just be gone the next? How is that even possible?" But here we are. Not only is it possible, it's a reality. Matt, who contributed so much to the world around him, is gone, and we are all still here. I sat in my car in the Wal-Mart parking lot and I cried for 20 minutes.
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Blessings are not lost on me. I know what an amazing gift we have all been given to still have Matt in our lives through his music. After his death, I was talking to a friend about the music and the video footage we have to remember him with. She said, "Wow, you're really lucky. If my husband died today all I'd have to remember him by is a few crappy snap shots and a gun collection." It's funny, but true. If you lost your loved ones today, what would you have to keep their memory alive?
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Years ago I read the following quote on a greeting card or something. I don't remember the exact source, but the sentiment has stayed with me all these years: "When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."
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While I believe Matt felt plenty of sorrow upon leaving this life, I also know he lived a life of celebration, a life worth celebrating. With this blog I invite you to do two things: to contribute to remembering Matt, and to find your own way of contributing to the world around you."
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You all support recycling, right? I'm only making time in my life for one post a day, so thanks for indulging me!

8 comments:

Christy said...

Can you post the link to that blog?

Becky said...

I love the Wal Mart cries! We must look utterly crazy, but oh well, walk a mile in our shoes! Thanks for writing about Matt. I look forward to reading others memories so I may know the man who filled your life with joy. Love you lots!

Staci Kramer said...

Jack asked me the other day, "Is Matt still dead?" I cried as I told him that yes Matt's body is still dead but his spirit is alive. I totally agree with you about how strange it is that someone so full of life could just disappear like that. I don't know if it helps any to know that everyone misses him so much but he really did leave a huge void in so many lives. Hang in there, baby girl, you are an amazing person.

Brooke said...

I too would like the link to that blog. Thanks for sharing that with us all.That is true what your friend said, how great it is that you have cd's and video of Matt. Not that even comes close to the real thing :) Maybe I need to invest in a video camera....

Brenda said...

OKay, I just added a link to the website on my sidebar. If you want to put it on your own sites, the address is www.remembermatt.blogspot.com

Brooke, go get the flip mino! It's less than $150 at Sam's Club, it's digital and plugs directly into your laptop and is only about the size of your phone! Perfect for those of us who are not super into the whole family video thing.

mikim said...

Along for the ride is in the cd player in our car-we listen to it all of the time. We love it! Thank you for sharing your thoughts-your truly have a gift for writing.

Julie said...

I love your writing and how you are sharing it with all of us...Your strenght continues to be an example to me...I wonder how you do it so gracefully, even with the cries at wal mart...who can blame you? I didn't know Matt all that well, but his personality was vibrant and exciting and someting I could feel from across the room!! He definatly contributed so much and continues to through you, his music, his kids and memories...Thank you for sharing!!!

Miss you!! Hope to make it back before I leave!!!

Peterson Family said...

You write so well Brenda, and I appreciate this post. Thank you for sharing your experiences and reminding me to take more opportunities to enrich my life and the lives of those around me. I hope that when it's my time to return home, I will a least be half as loved and admired at Matt. He sure has a beautiful, special and loving spouse/family here on earth.

PS It brought tears to my eye's when you said that you still have a piece of Matt through his music. My husband plays the piano as well and I haven't listened to his music in a while... I am going to grab his CD for my truck right now. Thank you.