Kelley Irwin

One day this week (Christmas 2024), Mom asked me to sit in Dad’s seat for our dinner.

It has been 25 months since we received a formal medical diagnosis of dementia for my dear Dad, and 6 weeks since he took his last breath.

Grief is wily. One minute, I’m out for a walk in the sunshine reminiscing about all the times I spent at the pool with my parents. The next, the tears slip down my cheeks and my breathing stops temporarily.

There is no pattern, no plan, and no preparation. Grief is artful at sneaking in.

For anyone taking the empty seat this year, or deciding to leave the seat empty after the loss of a loved one, be kind to yourself. Every emotion you feel is okay.

I am blessed with family and friends and time to reflect. I have magnificent memories and no words left unsaid. Even with all that, it’s still dreadful.