What I find odd and comforting at the same time

As many of you know by now, I lost my dad Nov.2002.
Not a day or nite goes by that I don't miss him, but have better days and then back to empty days.
Anyway, he use to love the series, "Law & Order", and at the time they weren't all re-runs.
Every year when we'd go down to FL and visit him and mom, it was very natural for him to be in his room (due to his emphysema and oxygen line) where he more or less lived or barely, just hearing the theme to the show brings me back to sitting with him, watching the show and our chatting back and forth. I watch all the re-runs, and find comfort as if he is right along side watching too, odd isn't it?
My 2 dogs cuddle up by me as I watch the shows, bringing more comfort, the one dog we have was around when he was still alive, she'd come with us to my parents home and bring happiness to them for they no longer had their last dog, she grew old and had to be put down.
Dad loved my Molly, she was of the same breed as 2 of theirs over the years,his favourite breed. . .Weimaraner.
She always would single him out, giving him affection as if she knew he loved her and her breed.
Pets can have such a wonderful affect on us, I did my research paper in college on the topic of animal assisted therapy, which started actually hundreds of years ago and still is widely used.
Sorry, I digressed here, but just wonder if tv shows in connection of who or where a person was or is at the time sparks memories. Like songs, I can almost go back to a time and or place when I first heard a song, if that song should come on the radio today or play the album and/or cd.
Does this happen to any of you? Do you think there is some "unknown" reason this happens? Is it some way our minds can comfort our hurting souls/hearts?
I think it is possible.
Thanks for listening to my ramblings

Love to all,

DE

When I read the story I sit and remember things from way back when. I have this unheathy obsession with gnomes and fairies. It all started when my Nana passed (Aug 2 2001). I inherited many things from her, but also her gnome and fairy collection. I find that everytime that I go out I buy gnomes and fairies. I have a 11 x 11 storagge space that is half filled with them. When I buy them I sit and look at them for a couple days or a week then box them up and put them away. I think that is an unhealthy obsession that I can not stop. I think that deep inside us we feel that if we stop then we have to face the "seperation" seeing that we found comfort in things that trigger our subconsious and we have the memories like it was yesterday.

Love and Understanding
~Kathie~

i think that our soul comforts our minds and hearts.....i believe in songs, perfumes, colognes, trees, flowers, rooms, furniture, highways, mountains, clothes, food and many other personal things bring us memories that our soul then cultivates and feeds us.....and we only get as much as we can "take in" at a time. everytime george jones sings "he stopped loving her today", i'm back with the love of my life and we're laughing and talking about horses and life....when i hear leon russell sing "back to the island", i am immediately in the little duplex that i moved to when i got my divorce from my girl's dad.....when i smell Halston, i see my lovely greyhound, Gypsy Rose Lee, that disappeared when i was in Chicago at a meeting. i bought Halston at Saks and have worn it ever since. when i eat lamb, i am taken to "Forneau's Ovens" (sp?)in San Francisco, when we went to see the King Tut Exhibition........now, do you believe, as i do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I have been discovering in my new "self-employment" is finding web sites for fellow mental health consumers (boring! But in June & July, both exactly on the 12th...are the birthdays of both of my brothers that I have lost to suicide...and it tears me apart....I miss them so much!!!

But.....w/ this "job" I have found some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring web sites...I never thought that "grief web sites" would "do much for me"

Please, if you have a loved one & you really feel like you'd like to touch that special place where our loved ones will always touch us, please check out the following web sites:

www.angelonmyshoulder.com (beautiful poetry & links)
and
www.selfhealingexpressions.com (getting you thru the first
year w/ e-courses & some
beautiful poetry...I love
poetry that connects me)

Submitted Humbly,
DAYZEE9

To all of you, thanks for the beautiful replies.
All the other things you mentioned, also take me through fond memories rather it is of those that passed on or are present, and yes that includes my pets.
When I go out and sit amongst our beautiful wildlife, or creatures of the sea, I feel so connected to the wonder, awesome world we share, can't put it into words but I guess it is something people would call "spiritual", whatever it gives me a good feeling. . .maybe I need to make time for that special time for "me"
Not just tv shows, music,photographs bring me to another time, but yes like some mentioned, scents, foods, people,places and things do that too.
I feel memories are our mental photo albums, many bringing comfort, I'd like to believe it is a special gift the human mind (and possibly our pets too) has been given.
The beauty of it, is no one can get in our heads and steal the comforting memories, but photo albums,material items can get damaged or destroyed, by the elements.
A friend of mine has no photos of her family, all was destroyed in a house fire when she was little, she misses that, but says at least the "photos" remain in her memory.
I am rambling, but the keyboard is transmitting my thoughs to this forum right now, and I didn't want to bottle that up but release, and share with you.
Thanks for listening

Love to you all,

DE