Thirteen years ago this November, my dad stayed at the hospital with my youngest brother, Shepard, while my mom took the other four of us children to do some Christmas shopping.
Earlier that year, Crawford (who was 4) had gotten a little Winnie the Pooh umbrella that he absolutely loved. Shepard was really enamored with it, and so I picked out a little 101 Dalmations umbrella for him.
I paid my $10 for it at Dillard’s, then brought it home and put it away, ready to be wrapped for Christmas morning.
Shepard died of cancer just a week or so later, at the age of three, and that little umbrella remained in my closet, unwrapped, for several more years.
When I got married, and Bart and I bought a house, I brought it out to Texas along with most of my other belongings. It made the move to Boston with us, and then survived the great purge when we sold nearly all our belongings and moved back to Texas.
Two weeks ago, when we packed up all our material possessions again, that umbrella got put in yet another box and drove all the way to North Carolina with us.
On Monday night, the day before Ella turned three, I finally pulled that umbrella out and wrapped it up.
After all these years of seeing that umbrella, unused with the tags still on, it chokes me up a little to see another little blond three-year-old finally getting to enjoy it. I think Shepard would approve.
diana banana says
awwww totally cried when I realized where you were going with that! so sweet!
Elaine says
I agree that Uncle Shepard would approve. Ella is clearly delighted. That is a very sweet story and tears are just flowing down my cheeks.
Señora H-B says
What a sweet way to share your brother with your daughter. Thanks for warming my heart this morning.
Kimberly F. says
Crying. What a perfect way to celebrate your brother and your daughter.
preethi says
Just turn my heart to goo, why don't you. The sweetest gift.
Sarah Spitz says
How sweet- love the pics…so much light. It really looks like summer.
Finally summer arrived in Germany as well:
http://lasagnolove.blogspot.de/2013/07/thankful-thursdaythankful-for-summer.html
Love from Germany,
Birdy and Bambi
Julie Allen says
Thanks for sharing. Some day I plan to do the same thing with something of my brothers. Hope you guys are doing well:)
Lisa says
That made me cry, right here before work. Thanks.
Ash says
What a sweet and precious gift. I love this.
Lisa says
Tears. Very, very sweet.
I don't comment much, but I love your blog. 🙂
Norby family says
This was a very sweet post, thank you.
Ralphie says
I love this post Janssen. It's always a wonder when you have known someone for so long and then find out something new about them. Such a great story.
Bmar says
so, so, so sweet
ellen says
Very sweet.
Isabel says
What a sweet story. Thanks for sharing.
Erica says
please stop making me cry at work. this was beautiful.
Amy Jo says
I am sitting at my desk at work crying; after reading the comments I know I am not the only one. Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing that.
Kelly @ IdealistMom.com says
What a perfect way to honor your brother. Thank you for sharing this sweet story.
(p.s. I used to be a book blogger at yannabe.com, and I pop in on all my old favorite book blogs from time to time – just wanted to let you know I still follow! Bummer to lose you in Austin but I hope you enjoy NC!)
Lindsey says
Yup. Totally spilled tears. What a beautiful tribute to Shepard. As always, I'm grateful to bloggers that share personal moments like this with total strangers. We are so much better for it.
Jon and Laura says
So sweet. Thanks for sharing.
heidikins says
This is just beautiful, thank you for sharing.
xox
Vanessa says
Oh, this is so sweet. What a gorgeous way to remember your little brother.
Landen says
I am so glad you shared this, Janssen. I had no idea you held on to it for all those years. I am glad that a sweet three year-old will get to play with it finally.
emandtrev says
This is so wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing this story. That last photo, especially, warms my heart. I'm sure your brother and heaven are smiling down on you and yours…
Amina Elahi says
What an inspired why to create beauty out of loss. Thank you for sharing.
Amy Johnson says
I don't know what to say that other people haven't already said, but I want to say SOMETHING because that is such a touching story. Thanks for sharing.
Peaceful Reader says
What a wonderful tribute to your little brother. I'm sure he approves. Something about umbrellas and small children (or any of us) are perfect together. Thank you for sharing.
Miriam says
tears
PrivatelyPublic says
So sweet. Thanks for sharing.
Jessica says
What a sweet story. Great post-thanks for sharing.
Audrey says
Wow, my heart. How amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that. I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your little brother.
Steph says
*hugs*
Blakely and Lindsey says
This warms my heart. Hugs to you, your family and sweet little Ella.
deepdork says
I'm sending you a big, two minute long hug, from New York.
Such a beautiful tribute to your baby brother.
Lindsay says
This was such a wonderful post! I had no idea you'd lost a brother to cancer. I'm sure he'd be happy to know that his niece was so excited about his umbrella. My heart goes out to you!
kristen says
You made me cry! That was so sweet- thanks for sharing!
runtspickins says
What a touching story. I'm so sorry for your loss. <3
Runt
runtspickins@yahoo.com
http://www.runtspickins.wordpress.com
Sarah S. says
this is such a sweet post. thank you for sharing.
C says
Such a sweet story, thank you for sharing. My little girl adores her umbrella as well, and what a special way to pay homage to your brother and connect him to your daughter! My heart goes out to you 🙂
Holly Hoffman Spears says
oh my gosh, I just bawled my head off. such a sweet story!
Sherry says
I'm thinking a three-year-old Shepard would not have been keen to give his umbrella away. But a sixteen-year-old Shepard is happy as can be to see that umbrella go to such a darling recipient.
Becca says
This is beautiful, Janssen.
Bethany says
So, so sweet.
Melinda says
Love this. So much sweetness and pain. I'm sorry J.
Ashlea with an a says
That story is amazing, what a great way to share with your littles, so so sweet.
Meghan says
Thanks for sharing such a personal story. Love her facial expression. 🙂
Lauren and Joe O'Brien says
I teared up reading this. What a sad trial for your family, but beautiful to see your little daughter with it now.