re: Dealing with death of a parent

My mom died 3 years ago, and she was a very “big” person; not physically, but very benevolent, dynamic, fiercely independent...She was 80 and still working as a realtor. She was just so alive, always, that it was hard to think of her as no longer living. So I keep her that way in my heart. I look for opportunities to give in her honor, sometimes I’ll look at things through her eyes and soul. I take the day off on the anniversary of her death and celebrate her; I drink her favorite coffee, cook something that she made for us, just marinate in loving her. She would be so pissed if I spent that day wringing my hands and crying. There will always be times when the sadness is huge and it overtakes me, but so far the best way for me to deal with grief is to celebrate her.