P.S. I love You

I have been reading the book P.S. I Love You by Ceceila Ahern...for those of you who know nothing about the book here is a brief overview...

''Remember our wonderful memories, but don't be afraid to make some more...' Holly and Gerry had the perfect life. Happily married, living in Dublin close to their friends and family, and with a brilliant social life, they had the world at their feet. Or so they thought. When Gerry dies, Holly is devastated. A few months before her 30th birthday, the man who was her lover, her best friend, her rock, has left her. But Gerry promised he'd always be there for Holly. And he is: his last bequest to her is The List, a bundle of notes which form a monthly mission for Holly to get her life back on track. As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows Holly better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing -- and being braver than ever before. Life is for living, she realises -- but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you. Charming, heartfelt and funny, this debut novel celebrates life, love and friendship and proves that true love never dies.

I think this book is awesome in how he leaves notes behind to show her he loves her and how life goes on with or without the ones you love. As a challenge for our blog group we are to write a note/list for someone, it maybe a note you would leave to someone for after your passing or for someone who has already gone. The notes I would leave if I were to pass on would be to my daughter, right now she is 15 which means that everything Mom says goes in one ear and out the other, but some of it sticks in there somewhere and I would hope that if I left her some notes she would be able to move on with her life and continue to be the wonderful person I know she is deep inside, and maybe even share some of this information with her brothers over the years.

My darling Ariel (I am writing this to my daughter as if I were passing away soon as was done in the book)

There are only two things that are certain in life, that is birth and death, everything else is optional. That being said we knew that at some point I would pass on, I had hoped I would be older and would have been able to see much more of your life and be able to guide you on the right path but all I can do know is hope that you have listened to what I have told you and that you will learn from those lessons. You have a strong spirit and I know that will help you through out your life. I know that my passing will hit you hard and that you will need some time to accept that I am gone and then I want you to read these notes I have left you and get on with your life, remember I will always be with you in your heart and watching over you always. Love you forever and always Momany...

(these might not be in the right order but they are things I would tell her, Momany is her nickname for me don't ask because I couldn't explain if I wanted to :)

Note 1: Get out a notebook and make a list of all the things that you regret saying or not saying to me. The fights we had the arguments and disagreements and when you think you have written them all down, ask Dad for his lighter and set the list on fire in the back yard. Now forget about them it doesn't matter anymore, I knew you loved me and I hope you knew I loved you more than life itself, all those others things don't matter so let them go. Love Momany

Note 2: Pull your baby brother up on your lap, pull out the photo albums or sit up at my computer and go through the pictures, tell him stories of me and not just the good ones. Show him the pictures good, bad and indifferent. It is up to you and Nathan to not let him forget me, and not just the wonderful me you think he should know but the grumpy me too :)

Note 3: Give your Dad a big hug and tell him that you love him, because you know deep down no matter how much of a butthead he is being you do love him, and you don't want to have to go through note 1 again when he dies because the list will be so much longer. Remember what I told you about Grandpa...you say you don't love him but when he is gone the whole in your heart will eat you alive. He is doing the best he can and although you might think he can do better just think about the saying "children learn what they live", he is hurting too and know that deep down his children still love him might make life a little easier. Love Momany

Note 4: Do your hair, makeup and get dressed up. Take out your camera and do what teenage girls do best take your self-portrait and never stop. Take out my old camera (as I am sure Dad will kill you if you touch the new one) and take pictures, capture life. Photograph my beautiful children, the silly dog, my grumpy husband and the beautiful landscape around you. Never forget those moments they are what makes you who you are, capture them. Love Momany

Note 5: Call your friends and go out to a movie, dinner what ever you can afford (or can ask Dad to pay for) and have fun. No thinking about me, no talking about me, just have fun being you, because that is the person the world needs the most. Love Momany

Note 6: Go to my room, ask Dad to bring out my boxes from the garage. Take as much time as you need. Go through my clothes, my bears and dolls, my jewelry, my nicknacks and pick out what you would like. I am leaving you a note of what you have to give to the other kids, Dad, and Grandma, the rest is up to you. You don't have to keep it all, you can give more to the others, you can give things away, but keep what you want. What ever makes you feel connected to me, that could be just one thing or a million whatever you want. Keep out some things and pack up the rest for Dad to store in the garage until you are ready to move away. Remember you don't need my stuff to have me near I am always with you in your heart. Love Momany

Note 7: Go on the photo drive, pick out your favourite photo of us from over the years (if you have more than one make a collage) and ask Dad to print it for you. Frame it and put it by your bed, know that I am always that close. Love Momany

Note 8: Take a close look at the girl in this picture...this is my beautiful angel girl...this is the girl that is beautiful without lots of makeup and her hair all done. This is the girl who's beauty shines from the inside out. This is the girl who knows what she believes in and will not let anyone else change that. This is the girl that knows what is right and will try and lead others to do the right thing. This is the girl that I loved every day of her life, her strong spirit, her gentle heart, she is a smart girl, and a wonderful person. This is the girl I want you to be never let anyone change who you are, never lose yourself. I know that this girl is capable of great things, go to university be a teacher or a counselor, travel to South Africa and change the world, because this girl can do these things. Reach for the stars punk as I know you can catch them. Love Momany

Note 9: My time is over but yours is just begun, let me go but never forget me. I am in your heart and soul but every time you look in the mirror you will see me looking back at you in those beautiful eyes of yours. I only ask a couple of things from you in your life...

1. be yourself and no one else because it is you that I love and it is you that the world needs

2. never forget me, good and bad,

3. never blame yourself for the things that have happened between us, that is life and it happens just learn from your mistakes and remember that the things you do while someone is alive will haunt you when they are gone

4. never let your baby brother forget me, and always be there for him he will need you more now than ever, he loves you almost as much as I did

5. reach for the stars as I know you can catch them, you have made me so proud in what a wonderful person you are and I know that I will continue to be proud watching you

6. Enjoy your life, do what makes you happy and live without regret

7. always know I loved you with every beat of my heart, whether we were together or apart I always loved you and I always will.