A repost! Lately, time has seemed to tick by so fast, mostly during these ‘ber’ months. Something this past weekend made me realize how quickly the twins are growing up and how it just feels like each month is slipping away, yet my mind still takes me back to those early months after Erik passed. This time it made me think of those days leading up to putting Erik to rest. Those days when I was trying to get a grasp on how I was feeling, those days were I felt like I was looking at myself from the outside and not accepting this was reality, those days where I couldn’t form thoughts, let alone words, yet there I was sitting down trying to write a speech that was suppose to sum you up in five minutes. It was one of the most difficult things I had to do in those early months, because how do I sum you up in five minutes? I couldn’t. I remember barely being able to get the words out, but somehow my fingers were doing it. Although I didn’t succeed at summing you up in five minutes, I was able to get some words out to show people the type of person you were, even though I know people already knew. This was the first time since reading it at your funeral that I looked back at it. April 20, 2022, I put you to rest with these words.
August 11th is my very favorite day. Not only was it the day my beautiful children were born, but it was also the day their father was born. I am Diana, wife and soulmate of Erik ****** Mosson. On St. Patrick’s day of this year, he met his eternal reward. A lifelong Catholic, my wonderful husband was fond of First Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It was a featured reading at our wedding. And, that is how I see the last nine years…My time with Erik was my love chapter.
Erik was patient, he waited an hour in line at the DMV the day we met and got a date out of it after he asked to borrow my pen even though he had one in his suit pocket! That day he was completely over dressed for such an outing, which was only made necessary by his procrastination. He waited until he received several notices from his work before he finally changed his Illinois license to a California one – I guess we have his HR to thank for that! That day changed both of our lives forever.
Erik was kind. He never failed to open the car door for me, even in the pouring rain. He was a true gentleman and the best husband I can imagine. His nature was to put others before himself. Everything he did during our time together was for our family.
Erik was never envious. He was supportive and dedicated and had the biggest love for Charlotte and Wyatt, our twins. He saw fatherhood as both a calling and a privilege, even if it meant changing double the amount of diapers and losing double the amount of sleep. He was born to be a father.
He was humble and inspired by fatherhood. He was love to our children. He never failed to celebrate milestones or to revel in the little things. We both believed that the little things are really the big things.
Erik was the most honorable, hard working man I have ever known. He was driven by his commitment to his family. He was selfless and calm and quick to forgive. Erik was honest and protective and hopeful and he persevered.
My husband never failed to be loving to those who knew him. His smile and infectious personality lit up every room he would enter. He never hesitated to offer a helping hand to anyone.
He always said our love is eternal. He had told me one day during one of our random drives to our favorite spot in Palos Verdes, if he was to ever go before me, he would be watching from up above, sitting on a bench just waiting for me. I can almost see him there now with his eyes closed taking a deep breath and enjoying the sunlight on his face.
Our very first date was a long drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. We got so deep in conversation that we lost all track of time. It’s one of my very favorite memories, because that was us: completely devoted to each other and kind of unaware of anyone or anything else when we were together. Erik’s two greatest accomplishment in life was being the most loving husband and the most incredible father. Our family is grieving, but we are comforted by the hope of Heaven and the promise that we are not saying “goodbye”, just “until we meet again – on that bench – one day.”
I hope we all leave here today inspired by the love Erik showed us; The sacrificial kind of agape love that showed us the heart of the Father. It is my prayer that we take the example of Christ and love deeply and with everything we have. Let’s all promise to pause and breathe in the sunlight and be devoted to our families and be all the things love and our faith calls us to be.
Thank you all for coming to pay your respects to the love of my life. I appreciate every call, meal, card, flower and visit. Please continue to share your favorite memories of my beloved as we celebrate his life and pray for his soul. We shall never forget Erik and we shall never let Charlotte and Wyatt forget their amazing father. We are blessed to have such a wonderful support network to lift us up during this difficult time. May God bless and keep you all in perfect peace.
Today I sit here and still can’t believe I was even able to get any words out. Re-reading it this past weekend filled my eyes with the tears that I’m much too acquainted with and filled me with the feeling I had reading it on that podium that I remember all too well. I hope you are resting and watching over us because putting you to rest still continues to keep me restless.
