National Survivors of Suicide Day

Tomorrow, November 22, is National Survivors of Suicide Day. As I have said before, I am a survivor of suicide. My dad took his life on June 5 of this year.

Each year the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention sponsors events across the country to reach out to those affected by suicide. The AFSP does a telecast to all of the events but each location also has its own program. I found out that there is an event about an hour from here and I had really considered going. The more I thought about it, though, the more I made up my mind that it would make me more sad. Although I am sure it does for some, the thought of interacting with tens (hundreds? thousands? who knows...?) of other survivors does not really bring comfort to me. I don't need to attend this event to remember my dad.

I will remember him tomorrow morning as I go with The Friends of the Miller Home to shop for Christmas gifts for those girls that I've grown to love. My dad always gave me money to buy presents from an Angel Tree child or a child from the Nashville Rescue Mission. He hated the thought of children not getting gifts from Santa.

I will remember him as I go to the Liberty football game with Cody tomorrow and think about the times my dad and I watched football together.

I will remember him as I make chili for us to eat while we watch Saturday night football from the warm comfort of our living room. My dad loved chili; he made a pot (or repeatedly asked my mom to do it until she finally gave in) every Sunday and then ate it for breakfast every morning along with a piece of the razzleberry pie that he also made on Sundays. (My dad ate weird breakfasts, I know.)

And I will remember him as I buy this ornament for my mom. My dad gave my mom an ornament each year; I know I can't fill that void but I can try. He loved the beach (that is where we scattered his ashes last month) and so I think this is a perfect way to honor and remember him on the Christmas tree. It says, "Every life leaves something beautiful behind." and it has the year on it.