Large Fierce Mammal

Ryszard, a true lady’s man.

“As I’ve gone through the grieving process myself, and watched others do the same, it has become clear to me that, in the end, the power and joy of a life well lived is not diminished by the final footnote that it came to an end. That grief is a path leading to a place where, without trivializing our loss or assuming a pretense that the one departed isn’t missed, we can once again think and speak of them fondly and often, without spontaneously melting into a weeping puddle of goo. That their lives will have meaning as long as those of us who remember still draw breath.” ~ Die My Dear? Why That’s the Last Thing I’ll Do.

In the early morning hours of the third day of September in the year 2013, a sharp blade in a sure hand brought about two births. The most important, was that of Viktor Ryszard Lawrence Whynacht, sired upon my Exquisite Wife Diana, and first born of the LFM Clan. A close second was my own, for upon that glorious day I was created of a common blood with Ryszard Stanislaw Kleszczynski, and all his line back to the beginning. An honoured mantle I had never worn before that moment.

Today marks 15 years since Ryszard was called upon to deal with urgent business elsewhere. A decade and a half to be visited and closely overflown by more Eagles than I’ve ever seen in nearly 62 years of spending as much time as possible outdoors. 15 years of living in a house haunted by a capricious Polish shade who will sometimes even permit himself to be seen, but only by Dogs and very young babies.

I can promise you Ryszard, with or without all the haunting, your presence is felt every day, and while your Grandsons will remember the days your life on Earth began and ended, they will every day join Diana and me in celebrating the LIFE that was everything in between.

Here’s to your ghost, and the warmest corner in our house. I know you’ve found it, and that you know it’s all yours.

That typically Ryszardesque response was created by Mrs. LFM just today.

So now, Goode Reader, I’ll leave you once more with this thing of beauty, likewise lovingly crafted by Mrs. LFM upon an earlier date of this remembrance.