I'm writing this for Lena:
I miss you so much Bob. You are so special. They'll never be one like you! I love you, Lena
     

Dear Bob,
Its been two years today, and I miss having you in my life, and it will never be the same without you. You were the love of my life, and you provided me and our family with love and the best family times. We miss having you in our lives so much, and we will love you forever.
Your loving wife, Ann

Bob-o,
My everyday life is very different now without you sharing it with me. A part of you is always with me, and I miss so much every day, and especially at breakfast and having your wonderful sour dough bread with jam and coffee.. I miss talking about the news of the day with you, or about plans with our family, or plans for the house, or what you were planning to plant in your garden and what I would ask you to plant for me yo cook. I miss your knowledgeable to talk about any subject, and with deep understanding and also different perspectives.
I miss our caring friendship and the comfort of being together. It was fun to enjoy the same activities, especially gardening, eating good food, and movies, and all the memorable times at the Cabin with our family.
You were a constant in my life, and my life life was blessed by being with you, and I miss you terribly. I have tried to stay active to keep my spirits up, and I know you would want me to be strong and independent. I have upgraded the kitchen, and I know you were here in spirit helping me, and I think you would be very happy with the new kitchen..
In your honor, I am getting the vegetable beds ready for planting now. I will not plant a garden like yours, but I will plant mostly cherry tomatoes and annual flowers, Gina and John will help me do the planting too, and our Grands will help with picking the tomatoes and flowers. They all have wonderful memories of being with you in your veggie garden.
There has been an amazing amount of Meyer lemons and Navel oranges this year from your trees for our family to enjoy, and to share with friends. 

I love you Uncle Bob! You're in my heart and prayers always.

I miss you so much Dad. Thinking of you today and every single day. I love you forever. xoxo gina

We love you Uncle Bob. Keeping you and all of our family in our heart and prayers today.

I have many fond memories of my Uncle Bob and I'd like to share a couple of them. The first memory is when I was about six years old. Our family was visiting from Portland, Oregon for a vacation. One evening we were all in the living room visiting. Uncle Bob was lying on the floor next to the fireplace talking with the grown-ups. I suddenly got a silly idea to tackle him! Next thing I remember we were having an awesome wrestling match together. That was when I realized that my Uncle Bob was really cool! I have never forgotten that day. ❤

My second memory is my summer vacation with Uncle Bob, Auntie Ann, Gina and John. I was a teenager at the time. Gina and John were toddlers. I loved spending my summers helping Auntie Ann with my adorable cousins. We would always be busy taking them swimming, having picnics, riding bikes, or just being together at their home. In the evenings when things would quiet down, Uncle Bob would sit next to Auntie Ann and start talking to her in a special love language that I would describe as the sound of a bird singing. He would do this little bird singing talk to Auntie Ann and amazingly she knew exactly what he was saying. She would answer him back in the same love language! I could hardly believe that she could understand everything he was telling her.
My Uncle Bob was my hero and always will be. He was gentle, soft-spoken, smile on his face and a little twinkle in his eyes all the time.

Eternal rest Grant to him oh Lord and may Perpetual light shine upon him.

My uncle Bob was a great man with a beautiful soul. I’ll always cherish the time I went to visit him for my 16th birthday and he took me out kayaking in the ocean. He was always in great shape and even as a teenager I struggled to keep up with him. The Bob I knew was a man who spoke very little words, but his peaceful auroa spoke volumes. A patient man. I know your in a better place now uncle Bob, enjoying your garden in heaven and continuing to send your peace and wisdom to us on earth. Until I see you again. Love always

Wow, where do I begin? My brother in law Bob was one in a million. He always had a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Bob was a kind man, and did so many nice things for me. Every year he helped me with my taxes, and even helped me sell my business, I could not have done it without him. I could ask him anything and he would always know what to do. He was more like a brother than a brother in law, and I will miss him so very much.

I was so deeply moved by your lovingly written tribute. Every word of every sentence was so vivid and captivating. I never had the good fortune of meeting Bob, but reading this made me especially understand why he is so beloved. Thank you for sharing the story of your father, husband, and grandfather with us!

Such a beautiful story from the Family for all to see the super photos & learn so much about Bob. Thank you dear Bob for sharing that wonderful smile for all!

Dear Ann and Family,
What a beautiful tribute you have composed for your beloved Bob. You have captured his spirit and person perfectly both in your written tribute and in the accompanying photos. Those pictures of Bob as a son, brother, husband, father and grandfather depict so perfectly a man who knew what was important in life - love and family - and who lived those values to the fullest. While you will always miss his presence you will have abundant memories to warm your hearts and to share with one another of your remarkable, kind and loving husband, father and grandfather. 

Dear Perri Family,

I send my deepest condolences for the physical loss of your husband, dad and grandad. I did not know Bob well. I felt that I knew him pretty well through Ann and her descriptions of his interests and skills. Mostly I recognized a very smart, skilled and loving family man, one who truly shared his life with his loving wife. That is the story of his life from my viewpoint. They were together! The loss is deep - but the memories are rich. That is what he has given to the family. 

When Great Trees Fall


by Maya Angelou

When great trees fall,

rocks on distant hills shudder,

lions hunker down

in tall grasses,

and even elephants

lumber after safety.



When great trees fall

in forests,

small things recoil into silence,

their senses

eroded beyond fear.



When great souls die,

the air around us becomes

light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,

see with

a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened,

examines,

gnaws on kind words

unsaid,

promised walks

never taken.


Great souls die and

our reality, bound to

them, takes leave of us.

Our souls,

dependent upon their

nurture,

now shrink, wizened.

Our minds, formed

and informed by their

radiance,
fall away.

We are not so much maddened

as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of
dark, cold

caves.



And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of

soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed.

*Thank you to our dear friend Bodhi Freedom for sending this beautiful poem