Balloons

This past Thursday evening, the forty-first Introductory Group Session at the Warrendale location of the Highmark Caring Place came to an end.  Marilyn and I had the honor of volunteering with this group, and over the course of the ten week session, we came to know some extraordinary children, teens, and adults.

As has become a tradition, on this final night each family member - child, teen, and adult - as well as each volunteer, completed a message to the Loved One that they had lost, attached that message to a balloon, and we all then gathered in the parking lot to release the balloons.

If I may, I would like to share that moment with you.

After ten weeks of getting to know each other, of sharing such personal thoughts and experiences, it really is a remarkable feeling that is shared among the children, teens, and adults - and the volunteers! -  whenever this release takes place.  No words of mine can describe it.

Remember, Children's Grief Awareness Day will be observed on Thursday, November 18.