Today is the anniversary date of one of the best days of Tyler’s life: the day she met her faithful companion Milly. Today is the adoption anniversary date. I’m so thankful this sweet dog is part of our lives now, especially mine. God bless her and God bless Tyler.
Honor & Memory for Tyler @ Rocky Mount Dog Park
Saturdays are always tough since that was the day we lost our beloved Tyler. All the family members still have issues coming to grips with the reality of this tremendous loss of someone so special and so loved.
I recently finished a book written by a father who lost his daughter Sally in a tragic car accident at age 18 in 2004 at the hands of an impaired driver traveling at a speed in excess of 90-mph. After ten years of dealing with the loss and the grieving, he… was encouraged by friends and family to write a book, which he completed last year. Many things in the book have helped me but one thing in particular that resonated: “They say time heals all wounds. The loss of a child is such a bad and deep wound that time does not heal it. Time does however cover the wound with scar tissue which does ease the pain”. We’re all still waiting for some more scar tissue.
Milly and I visit the fabulous Rocky Mount dog park often. The city donated a brick/plaque and Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, through the Elizabeth Tyler Strandberg foundation, have donated a bench and pavilion style cover and plaque in her remembrance. All very special and also very emotional for us when we visit. Photos attached.
Thanks again to everyone for their notes, texts, emails and kind words. It helps and is greatly appreciated. And God bless Tyler. We all sure do miss her.
Tyler in Her Own Words
“There’s a 50% chance of rain, 20% chance of sleet, and 100% chance that you can’t do anything about it.” – a Downeast Maine quip
Emotions move like weather fronts. You can try to track them with radar imaging and maybe compare them to previous years’ data but ultimately they are completely out of your control. Sometimes you are caught off guard and unprepared and that is life.
I found an old message from Tyler in my inbox. A memory I had long since forgotten. It is a quick and casual message she sent me while she was visiting home one summer. A snapshot. She tells me a story and it is the definition of a “Tylerism”: Exceptionally bad luck? Yes. The “how did this happen?” factor? Yes. Carefully made plans thrown out the window? Most likely. Did she laugh and shrug it off? Also very likely, as you can see here in her own words. That’s who she was.
Those close to Tyler have seemingly dozens of stories like this one. They seemed to follow her with uncanny frequency.
Christmas
The weeks leading up to our first holiday season without Tyler were full of dread, angst, and deep sadness, but with hope for peace and comfort.
Thankful
Is it just me or is everyone really jumping the gun on the holidays this year? Not to sound like a Grinch, but it overwhelms me to already hear Christmas music on multiple radio stations, holiday decor on every aisle at Harris Teeter… not to mention that my office Secret Santa has been organized since September. And Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet! Continue reading
We have created a logo in honor and remembrance of Tyler.
The antlers symbolize strength, growth and maturity. The antler necklace was one of Tyler’s favorite pieces of jewelry.
The Tetons are the mountain range in Jackson that she loved so much. Tetonty was Tylers nickname and Tetonty.com is the website that has been created to celebrate and remember her life. The blue represents her love for her University and the UNC Tar Heels.
“Outside her comfort is her zone” is the tag line we believe symbolizes how Tyler lived her life. Tyler’s wish for all of us would be to have goals and set those goals high. She believed there was nothing in life that you cannot achieve with strong will and determination. And she was living proof.
TetonTy 