Forever 34

It’s been it’s a struggle to move forward from May 18, 2016.  That’s the day my world blew up.  It’s a day that is etched into my mind by grief and pain – the day my son, David Glasser, who was a Phoenix Police Officer, was killed in the line of duty.

I am blessed with a great group of family, friends and my Blue Family.  I’m learning how to live with only memories of Davey.

It’s not easy. It doesn’t feel right. The empty hole in my life is very evident.

But I have no other choice.

I thank God for no regrets and a ton of precious memories.

Davey’s birthday is this week, November 19th.  He would have been 44 years-old.  We had so much fun on his birthday every year!  His 20th birthday landed on a home Cardinals game – the early years of the Cardinals.  We all had a blast tailgating.  Beer pong was still an approved activity then so there were lots of ping pong balls flying everywhere.  Good times!

asu

Daveyโ€™s birthday is right before Thanksgiving so it always felt like his birthday extended into the holiday. He often had an ASU vs UofA Football Watch party the day after Thanksgiving if the big rivalry game was being not being played in town. If the game was in town he was usually tailgating somewhere close to the stadium.  Davey loved ASU and he loved the rivalry.  He graduated from ASU along with most of our family except we have one Wildcat…..and he loved to razz her about it …constantly ๐Ÿ™‚

Everybody would come to Davey’s football parties and we would have a great time laughing and playing all day.  Cornhole.  Washers.  Watching the game.  Drinking some Coors Light.  

davey-square

 It’s hard now.  We miss him.  We miss his laugh and his joking and his big smile of delight when he was surrounded by his friends and family.

It’s been over 9 years since I’ve seen his smile in person. I have a re-occurring dream where I see Davey at a distance and I keep following him around trying to talk to him – trying to get him to smile at me. But I can never get close enough. Davey was shot in the back of his head and he has a big patch on his head in my dream. The first time I saw it (in my dream) I couldn’t figure out what it was. Then I realized that was where he was shot. Isn’t it crazy that my subconscious would add that to my dream?

Except for the patch, in my dream Davey looks just like he did in 2016. He looks just like this picture that was taken 2 months before he was killed.

My four special grand darlings are all growing taller and are physically changing a lot as they grown up. The rest of us are growing older with more gray hair, wrinkles, and age spots.

But Davey will stay forever 34…..

Miss you, Davey.

Love you.

6 thoughts on “Forever 34

  1. Unknown's avatar Anonymous

    Sharing your grief by writing may be therapeutic, to a small degree. I believe that it almost certainly helps others who are going through deep pain, as well. Your transparency regarding your loss and how it has affected your life may well encourage others to keep moving forward through their own pain. Thank you, Judy!

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement. Putting words to the emotions I have experienced from losing a child has definitely helped me. A lot of people have thanked me because my words also describe their emotions and now they have the words. Being able to define how we are feeling helps us process the trauma. It also helps us describe to other people how we’re feeling – its not just a huge black cloud in our heads. My prayer is exactly what you said – I hope my writing encourages others to go to God who can help them focus on the future, not get stuck in the past. Love you!

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  2. Unknown's avatar Anonymous

    Happy Birthday Davey! He was and will always be a HERO to so many people. I am glad I got to meet him and that I am able to keep in touch with you. I have fond memories of the times we have gotten together and wish you a very nice Holiday Season. Keep writing this amazing blog. I so look forward to reading every one of them! Love You!!

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