Remembering Vavô

This year we celebrated El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to honor our dear Vavô. Rosie has been planning this for a couple weeks now, and we spent the day creating an altar, with the help of Vavó, Tío, Ang, and Na. Included on the altar:

❤️ photographs recent and past
️❤️ Vavô's belongings, including his ties, the gold bracelet he gave DaddyO on our wedding day, a U.S. and Portuguese flag pin, a 49ers shirt
❤️ foods he enjoys like pistachios, chocolates, bread, oranges
❤️ paper marigold flowers with messages and poems written on them
❤️ homemade, decorated sugar skulls and cookies
❤️ bowl of water, washcloth, and soap so Vavô can wash up
❤️ candles to help light Vavô's way to us

After the altar was set up, we unwound and watched Book of Life, which has been helpful in talking to Rosie and gives her a comforting image of Vavô in a land of the remembered that is joyful, vibrant, full of peace, and where he is surrounded by loved ones.

Rosie then insisted we picnic by the altar. We played the Frank Sinatra pandora station and shared favorite memories of Vavô.

Vavô is remembered every day in our house. Still, it was good to dedicate the time to remember him together. As Rosie and Joseph get older we will continue to cherish these moments and keep Vavô alive in our hearts.

We miss you, Vavô.