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ris 🤍

@heyitsris

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learn to love & be good trouble. 🫶🏽
& not to be too political, but it shouldn’t hurt to be a child.
@revoagrand where I navigate grief

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My beautiful girl. She was a writer, and a good one at that. Great, even. I got it from her. An excerpt from the book I still haven’t finished…

“On Friday’s she got her hair done. On Friday’s she’d drive all the way to Hair Deco to see Denny, and eventually Margie, and she’d sit in their chairs. I always wondered what they gossiped about - because despite her love for the Lord, Gammies always was a gossip. She’d arrive at noon and be done by two o’clock; we all know it could’ve been earlier, but she was a gossip.

I’d be pretending to nap, or down the hall getting a piece of sweet mint Orbit gum, but on Friday’s… She picked me up. She’d get to my daycare in a hurry so I wouldn’t have to nap for long. A pitstop to the children’s restroom - those toilets really are tiny, and then break free. She always looked so beautiful; a bright matching set, her clip on earrings, and the same berry red lip.

On Friday’s we’d go shopping. It was just the grocery store, but we were together. A pork shoulder for her roast, minute rice for me, peach flavored sparkling water for her soda can refills - I never understood why she drank out of an empty soda can, and the rest of the list would end up in the cart. She always looked so beautiful.

On Friday’s mom worked late. It was just routine for us that mom probably wouldn’t make it home in time for dinner. She’d make me a bowl of ramen, 2 ice cubes, and the secret ingredient - a little dash of onion powder. Because I was 5, and she wanted me fed. Because I was 5, and she got her hair done on Friday’s.

Until she didn’t. And I was 19, and she fell.

And then I was 26, and I did her hair. On Friday’s.
Until I didn’t.”

It’s Friday. And I want to do her hair. by @heyitsris

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5 months ago

I will always love you.🤍 Swipe to see the most precious pictures.
// these deserved a permanent spot on the feed forever. by @heyitsris

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5 years ago

On October 4th, 1940 this guy was born. Over the last 80 years he’s been a brother, a Marine, a business owner, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He’s full of wisdom, stories, and love. I feel so incredibly blessed to be apart of the legacy he has created. We love you beyond measure, Papa!🤍 by @heyitsris

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6 years ago

art baby, art by @heyitsris

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15 days ago

Wow… I wrote a book.

A few years ago, I was dreaming up my next tattoo, and something in me knew it had to be for her. I knew I wanted - no, needed.. her to see it.

She didn’t like tattoos. She didn’t condone me getting them…but I did anyway. And she always “liked” them.

When I came home with hers, though, she wasn’t too keen.

She wasn’t mad. Mostly, she was confused. She didn’t realize it was her handwriting. She didn’t believe me when I told her. She didn’t understand the flowers until I explained them.

She didn’t really like it.

But she accepted it.

Today, I look at that tattoo every day and feel that little spark of hope. That reminder that somehow, she’s still here. Probably reminding me that she’s still not too keen on it…but she accepts it.

This feels no different.

I wrote a book. About her. For her. Because of her.

And she probably wouldn’t be too keen on that either, but…you get the gist.

I am immensely proud to introduce you to this little piece of my heart. A collection born from loving her, losing her, grieving her, and trying to make sense of everything she left behind.

After years of wishing I was an author, I can finally say that I am.

It’s nothing huge, but it’s huge to me.

So, to that I say…

Goodnight Honey, I Love You.

Available now on Amazon. 💜 (Hardcover and EBook are live, Paperback coming Saturday!) by @heyitsris

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a month ago

a Papa and his crew 🤍 by @heyitsris

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2 months ago

85 and alive.
Our Papa. Our hero. Our everything.
As we navigate the grueling road of Alzheimer’s, this man continues to amaze us. Parts of him are long gone, but he’s still our Papa. Proud, humble, loving, caring, and one silly man through and through. My heart beams knowing we’ve gotten to love and be loved by this man. May he never go a day without knowing how much each of us love him.
To our Papa… your memory may fail you, but your heart never will. You may tell the same stories over and over, but what else is new? You LOVE talking about our days in the pool, so I hope this day sticks around for even longer.
To my cousins and brothers, thank you for making today possible. He’ll talk about it for weeks to come.
To anyone walking this same road, no matter how hard it gets… no matter how frustrated the day to day makes you… Love them. And love them well. Remind them of the good old days.

It’ll change their life. by @heyitsris

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2 months ago

q2… you’ve wrecked me in ways I never imagined.
but you reminded me of people I would undoubtedly die for.
thankfully I choose to live for them too. by @heyitsris

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4 months ago

My everything, hallelujah.

I’ve never been ready to make this post. And I never will be.
So I’ll just leave you with this. The words that have carried me through this loss since even before she was gone. I have held these words so dear for so long. And nothing better could be said.

“That’s the real happily ever after, isn’t it? Not the absence of pain or the promise of forever, but the courage to love completely, knowing it will change you irrevocably.” - @dianaelliotgraham in Six Morning Kisses.

Goodnight Gammies. I love you. I cherish the day I gave you six mourning kisses.🐰 by @heyitsris

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5 months ago

POV: my ‘une journée parfaites’ in Q1 by @heyitsris

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6 months ago

From me and mine, to you and yours…
A very merry Christmas indeed.❤️🤍 by @heyitsris

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9 months ago

“Guys it’s Christmas!” - @faith__novak for 3 hours straight by @heyitsris

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10 months ago