Dear Benji

Dear Benji,
As the holidays have come to a close I reflect back on this past month. What a month it has been. You gave us all quite a shock. Definitely what we were all least expecting came to pass. The very instrument that you used for 20+ years to bring joy to countless lives was taken from us. You decided you no longer needed it. This has brought a flood of emotions for hundreds. Your life impacted more than you could ever have imagined. The life you lived was like no other.

Although you were not physically with us on Christmas morning we decided to leave your Christmas stocking up and place a letter or object we would like to give you in it. These we would share with each other on Christmas morning. The week prior I had began to think about what I was going to place in your stocking. As Christmas Eve came I finally settled on a single red rose. No letter or note, just one red rose.

In our culture the symbol of a red rose represents love. As I placed the rose in your stocking, I gave you my love. I am sorry, so very sorry, that I waited for so many years to show my love to you. It was not until I was a senior in high school when I finally began to love my brother. And for that I am deeply sorrowed. But I am grateful for the opportunity, the time I had, to show you my love before it was too late. As you died, the depth of love I had (and still do) for you has become oh so evident. Your death hurts Benji! It really hurts bad! REALLY BAD!

As I laid in bed on Christmas Eve I decided that every Christmas from here on out I would place a single red rose on your grave, over the instrument you used to bring so much joy and to touch many. I will never forget your life, nor will I forget the love I have for you. This rose will forever serve as a reminder not only of the love I have for you, but also of the great need to love others. I love you Benji, and I long - more than anything - to be with you once again. But until then...