Diana Marie Sanders
A FAIRWELL TO DIANA
My Darling Diana;
These are the things I regret the most
I regret that I wasnt able to do more to keep you healthy and strong at the end.
I regret that when you became ill, I didnt see how sick you were sooner than I did.
I regret that I wasnt able to say a real good-bye to you before you left.
I regret that we couldnt have been together longer. Forty years was not enough!
These are the things I ask you to forgive me for
Please forgive me for the times I forget to tell you how much I respected and admired you.
And forgive me for the times I put myself first at your expense.
Please forgive me for not making our family the most important thing in our early years.
And forgive me for all the times I said mean things that hurt you and made you cry.
These are the things that make me glad
Im glad I was able to be with you when you left.
And Im glad I was able to hold you in my arms when you took your last breath.
Im glad that you left this world before I did. It was a wish of mine that God granted to me.
And Im glad I have found a few friends to help me go the rest of the way without you.
These are the things I miss the most
I miss all the times we held hands as we drove in our car.
And all the things, big and small, that you did for me that no one else would ever do.
I miss all the times you phoned me just to say, Jerry! I love you!.
And I miss the times you reaffirmed our love, which never changed with time.
I miss all the good dreams I had about you, from which I did not want to wake.
And I miss your big hugs, your soft kisses, and the warmth of your body next to me.
I miss the smell of your perfume and the fresh scent of your hair, but most of all,
I miss reaching out to touch you when I awake at night, alone and lonely in the darkness.
These are the things I remember the best
I remember you for being at my side for 40 years of happiness.
And all the times I hurt your feelings, and how each time you forgave me.
I remember all the times I woke from a bad dream and you were there to hold me.
And I remember every hour we ever spent together.
I remember all the times we worked through our anger and our worries.
And I remember too how you looked the night we met and how you smiled up at me.
I remember how you asked me to put my arm around you and made me feel so at ease.
And in my head, I still have all the precious memories we made just by being together.
I remember all the times I needed someone and you were always there.
I remember each of the sacrifices you made for me that cost you so much.
And I remember the times you understood me and gave me the support I needed.
And all the times I was sad and you held me and said Jerry, everythings going to be OK.
I will remember all the beautiful memories of the love we built over the years.
And all the tenderness and love that you showered upon me.
And all the little things you did, which in time, added up to be so great.
And I will remember all the times you had faith in me, when I had lost my confidence.
I remember how you gave your gentle and loving nature to our daughters.
And your courage and bravery as you fought so hard until the end.
I remember your smile and happy outlook, even when everything was going wrong.
And I remember how you were always so good with me.
These are the things I want to thank you for
I want to thank you from my heart for always being so good with me.
Thank you for all the times you defended me when others said bad things about me.
Thank you putting me ahead of everyone else, no matter how much it cost you.
And thank you for teaching me the meaning of best friend.
Thank you for the three special children you bore for me.
And for all the hopes and dreams that you had for them as they grew up.
Thank you for every kiss, every hug, and every tear you shed while raising them.
And for all the times we worried about them and cried for them.
Thank you Diana, for helping me to become a better person.
For being the one who made such a real difference in how my life turned out.
Thank you for being the love of my life.
And thank you too for being the best thing that has ever happened to me.
These are my last promises to you
I will always love you was a promise I made long ago, but a promise still kept.
We journeyed down a long road, yet our love endured in a way known by so very few.
Our love survived because we were always able to change and grow together.
And our love grew stronger because both of us were willing to give more than we took.
I promise that you will live on in my heart and the hearts of your family and friends.
If I meet another million people, nobody can ever diminish the love I feel for you right now.
I will continue to love you and keep you close to my heart.
So that you will live on for all the remaining days of my life.
Goodbye my darling Diana
Your devovoted husband Jerry
12/05/03
