As of this writing, I am planning to make this my Final Blog Entry on this Platform. While the original Darrel's Playground was launched in February 2007 on MySpace (thanks for the suggestion Mindy), this Website has been up and running here on Weebly since June 2011 (thanks for the suggestion Tanya). Along the way, I've also had accounts for Darrel on Twitter, Tumblr, and Personal Pages on various other sites over the years. There is also a Playground Group on Facebook, which I attend to keep active and up to date moving forward.
While I only now Post twice a year (May 26th and September 9th, for obvious reasons), it used to be a lot more years ago. Writing these Blogs have helped get me through some rough times back then, serving as both an outlet for what I was feeling, and maybe in some small way, helping others that were on a similar path with their own child. Rereading my Blogs years later, have often reminded of events that, for whatever reasons, I had forgotten, or had a fuzzy memory of.
With today being what would have been Darrel's 26th birthday, it seems to be as good a time as any to conclude my Blog phase of remembering my son. So much has been said here about Darrel, and even though he has been gone for almost 19 years, his impact will always resonate with my family, and those who got the chance to spend any time with him. Of this, I am certain.
I will not be deleting this Website, but in a couple of months, my Domain Name license will be expiring, and will revert the Playground to being just a Page on the Weebly Platform, not an independent Site, if someone were to Search for it. While it has never been a huge expense to maintain, I feel the time has come to make this decision.
In conclusion, I would like to say THANK YOU again to everyone who has visited Darrel's Playground, whether on purpose, or by accident, over the years. Your support has meant a lot to me and my family in ways you'll probably never know.
Darrel's passing will always feel like it was only yesterday to me. Nothing that has happened to me before, or since, could ever come close to the emotional overload that September 9, 2007 will forever have in every fibre of my being. Certain words, songs, smells, and places will remind me of him, sometimes without context or any warning. Even when I look into the faces of my granddaughters, there are momentary glimpses of Darrel. While times like that will make me sad, they also will bring a bit of comfort to my heart as well.
"When all is said and done, Grief is the price we pay for Love."
Love and Miss You Little Man
Forever Your Dad
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