Mermaid

My beautiful mermaid,

Memorial weekend passed. We had a good time at Alina's with her, Mike & the kids. We had burgers, hot dogs, veggies & corn on the cob on the grill. Then we watched "Home" downstairs & had a sleep over. Daddy had to work like usual. The next day we went to a festival in Vienna & watched Madeline dance on stage. She was great. It was a lot of fun. We couldn't help but be a little sad, missing you & knowing how much you'd be enjoying it too. Nothing is the same without you. But we always try & include you somehow, even if it's just recalling all our favorite memories. Like the many festivals we went to in the past, with the food, face painting, bubble guns & balloons. Remember the pink dolphin bubble guns? :)

Bella didn't forget about opening day for the pool, of course. Even though she had a cough & didn't feel well, she couldn't wait to go. Specially because this was the first time at the new pool. Of course she reminded us that if you were here, you both would be starting your campaign to convince me to go. That no matter how cold, you would still swim. How you practically lived there every summer. Like fish, you loved the water. Like mermaids. You would be the purple one..

We didn't forget about your love for mermaids mouse. How your obsession started with the movie Aquamarine, then your favorite show on Netflix: H20, which you watched over & over. You'd watch it on your phone or the iPad wearing your headphones, so when I'd call you to help clean or do homework, you couldn't hear. I'd nag you all the time about not watching TV on your phone because it ruined your eyes.

Remember a couple years ago, when you made me buy you all those plastic mermaid dolls, one in every color, from the Dollar store? How you didn't want to share them with Bella, so I had to buy her own set to play with you in the bathtub, then you left me big messes in the bathroom?

Then last year you asked for a rubber mermaid tail for your birthday & then Christmas. I said, "No, because that's just too weird & what would you do with it anyway?" You said you'd use it in the bath tub, or the pool. That you didn't care if people thought it was weird. I believed you too. But because it was huge, over $100 & I still thought it was weird, I didn't buy it. You & Bella pretended anyway & still made big messes in the bathroom, splashing your "tails" around in the tub. Then at the pool & beach, you'd swim mermaid style. You even had your beautiful mermaid hair to match...


Pretending to be mermaids.



Mermaid hair 

That beautiful mermaid hair...I hope you finally got your purple tail to go with it baby. I hope you're swimming with all the other mermaids in heaven. Don't forget to swim with Bella once in a while. Sunday she put her bathing suit on, went in your room & I heard her call you, "Hailey, let's go to the pool!" So we went. Sissy & I watched her poolside, swimming happily in the sun with a cool breeze in the air. We knew it was you...

We're not the only ones that remember. Below is the purple Barbie mermaid Uncle Mikey & Auntie Zuli got specially for your 11th birthday. It sits on top of your dresser. So pretty like you. I know you love it..

We've talked about going to the beach this summer & spreading a little of your ashes in the ocean, baby girl. To make your wish come true. If I can bear to part with them....I don't know. I've had to let go so much of your already. Please forgive me.

I can still envision you, my pretty girl. A lovely mermaid with long beautiful wavy brown hair & a pretty shiny glittery purple tail swimming & splashing with your mermaid friends. It makes me smile...

Love & miss you. Everyday of my life.

Forever & ever your mommy. <3