A Beautiful Tribute

Last picture of the McLaughlin Cousins- June 2009.  Moira is seated, second from left.

 Today's post was contributed by my Aunt Theresa. 

There may have been some heavenly shenanigans going on today.  Ever since Dan's funeral, Moira has worn a little yellow every day to keep the memory of Dan close.  Usually, that has been in the form of a yellow ponytail holder that she wears as a bracelet.  I suggested that she could make a real bracelet that would be nicer than that.  So, today we headed to Michael's to look at their jewelry supplies, thinking maybe she'd make a stretchy bracelet of yellow beads, or maybe a black one with a single yellow bead.  Well, we were overwhelmed by all the options, and a bit distracted by all the pretty beads and charms.  Strangely enough, we didn't see any beads that were Livestrong yellow, except for some cheesy plastic ones.  We went through the whole jewelry-making section 3 times, debating what to do.  Moira eventually decided on a particular style that she'd like to make, so we then looked for beads that would work for that.  I told her to look for something that speaks to her.  While once again looking over a selection of glass beads, I expressed frustration at the lack of any solid yellow ones.  Polka dots wouldn't do.  I pointed out a swirly-looking one and said it's the right yellow, but too bad it's just a swirl in a clear bead.  Moira took the card it was on, spun the bead around and said, "It's a yellow flower - like the ones Dan was buried with."  When I looked closer, I saw that she was right.  Sold.  I then pointed out a green one and asked if she wanted to add that as a symbol of liver cancer.  She liked that idea, and then wanted to find another yellow flower bead to put on the other side of the green one.  But the one she had spun around was the only bead of that type that looked like a flower.  So I said that maybe we could find a Celtic cross or something, since Dan was proud of his Irish heritage.  We were perusing the same wall yet again, when Moira excitedly noticed that there was a four-leaf clover on the same card as the green bead we'd picked out.  Not a shamrock, but close enough.  We looked at each other and said, "This is kinda spooky."  She had been looking for something that "speaks to her", and found these beads that we had both looked right past before.  It really made us feel weird in a physical way, and goose bumps rose on my arms.  Who'd have thought Dan would help Moira design a bracelet?

Moira's Bracelet- A Beautiful and Unique Tribute to Dan