“I will be the biggest mess the day Poppy Wilford dies.”
Something I’ve said to Will numerous times throughout the course of our relationship. I knew I would be a mess, but I didn’t know he’d die this way which in turn made me into an even bigger mess.
It truly didn’t feel real when I received a text from my mom on June 29th at 3:47 PM telling me that my Poppy Wilford died in a bad accident on his way up to the cabin in Bear Lake. How could this happen? We were all supposed to go up and be there as a family that weekend to celebrate the 4th. Our favorite holiday. Our favorite place. Our favorite person. Gone.
It didn’t feel real.
I don’t know why, but I always felt like my Poppy and I had a special connection. I felt like he understood me and I loved the way he carried himself. He was always joking with people, sarcastic to an extreme, hard-working, loving, and always made family the most important focus in his life.
I loved everything he embodied. He was a true hard worker and worked up until the day he passed away. Literally, he was fixing a flood at my parent’s rental the morning he passed away. He turned 80 last month and had yet to retire because he truly loved to work.
We were able to spend so much quality time together on Sundays at his house (less than a mile away from mine), summers at his pool, and also on our many trips we took as a family together. We loved going to Newport (remember this post from last month?), Bear Lake, London, Italy (he took my cousin Rachel and me to Italy when I was in 7th grade. A trip I will never forget!), Germany (see this post if you want to cry) and many more trips I will cherish forever.
Grandaughter Poppy bracelets from Made by Mary
Although I miss him daily and want to cry on command every second, I’m grateful for my family and for the Plan of Salvation that I believe in. It’s going to be a huge healing process for me but I can’t wait to see him again and am so comforted by the knowledge of that.
Life is too short and can be taken from you in a flash! Be kind. Hug those you love. Call those you love.
-Liv
See his obituary here.
Article from crash here.
