If Rory’s death was the only struggle our family had to get through for the rest of our lives, it would be enough.
Her death hit each of us, leaving cracks in so many places. I’ve found that pain finds its way into those cracks, spreading into different aspects of our lives.
For Dax, the unexpected crack, the unexpected pain, was gymnastics.
Dax started gym at age 5. He spent the entire summer begging me to do gymnastics.
I thought maybe it was more of a whim, but when it lasted the entire summer, I signed him up in September. One day a week on Thursdays.
After starting gym his first question everyday was, “Is it Thursday?” Then he spent the day doing handstands and cartwheels all over the house.
Because of his love and insistence, I signed him up for Tuesday as well.
In a few months they invited him into the pre-comp team then within a year he was moved up to the competition team.
We were out of our depths and didn’t know what we were getting into until it was too late.
But it never mattered because he LOVED gymnastics.
Fast forward to a few months after Rory’s death.
I was saying goodnight to him in bed and he expressed regret that he spent so much time away from Rory doing gymnastics. And now he doesn’t have anymore.
In the following months, he talked about quitting a few times which was so unusual for him. He stopped doing gymnastics around the house. He hardly ever went to do flips on the trampoline.
But Lance and I kept encouraging him. He found so much joy in gymnastics, we didn’t want him to regret leaving the sport.
The last couple of weeks, he’s been doing handstands all over the house again. He walks from the couch to the kitchen on his hands. Dax annoys Lance by doing handstands right into his face.
It’s made my heart swell to see him loving gymnastics again. I’ve fought back tears seeing his love and passion return.
Rory didn’t love going to the long competitions but she did love to watch Dax do gymnastics at home. She also loved to push her brother out of handstands every once in a while too.
I think she’s happy to see that joy returning to Dax.
Rory’s attempt at doing a press handstand on Dax’s parallettes.
I think most grieving people would say that heals is a strong word.
It’s an open wound. For the rest of my life.
But I’d also say that even time has mixed reviews.
As time passes it might be easier to get through the day to day. I’m sure it’s gotten easier. I can’t really recognize it as there are still a lot of sad days.
But time is also a big, fat thief!
Yes, big.
Yes, fat.
It eats memories.
It steals the way her hands once felt on mine.
It steals the exact way she laughed.
It steals away the exact way she used to skip across the field.
It eats remembrances.
As those memories begin to fade, the longer she’s away, the more I hate time.
I hate time because she’s not here.
I hate time because it just keeps going.
Why is it still going?
But I’m also grateful for it.
In the time since Rory passed my twins have grown taller than me.
They started high school.
They went to their first dance.
They take leadership roles in our family.
Since Rory’s passing, Dax turned 12 and was given the priesthood at our church.
Dax has competed in another season of gymnastics and learned more amazing skills.
He’s getting ready to graduate elementary school.
While time is taking memories of one, the other three keep growing, developing, and turning into amazing men.
Rory Ann Moore Foundation 