The Griever’s New Year- and some Gospel music

Sufi philosophy suggests that death is akin to a reconnection—a joyous reunion for those who lived their lives in unity and love. This imagery resonates deeply as I think of my precious child, who embodied pure love and exuberance. In the Sufi view, death is a return to the divine source, a way to merge with the endless love of the universe.

While my heart aches with longing, I remind myself that my child’s existence was a beautiful gift. Ricky brought light into my life, into his sister Chastity’s life, my parents,his grandparents (maternal and paternal), and aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ricky may no longer walk this earth, yet I believe his spirit has embarked on a new journey, one that is filled with peace, love, and unity with the Divine.

As I navigate this painful path of loss, this year all the way from Heredia, Costa Rica, I strive to remember the joyful moments we shared—each laugh, each hug, and every irreverent reaction we had together to 3am theatrical, charlatan televangelists on TBN.
I am learning to celebrate the love that remains. While the physical presence may be gone, the bond we shared transcends the boundaries of life and death.

Schedule for JetBlue flights from JFK to SJO and vice versa, including departure times and terminal information.

In this experience of profound grief, I am comforted by the hope that my child is now embraced in divine love, where pain and sorrow are no more. Their spirit is free, intertwined with the essence of all existence, reminding us that love never truly dies.

As I honor Ricky’s memory, I hold on to the belief that, one day, I too will experience that reunion—a reunion with my child, where we will once again celebrate the divine together. Until that moment arrives, I will cherish the love we shared, for it is the most beautiful gift that transcends even death.

A scenic view of a house surrounded by vibrant flowers and lush greenery in Heredia, Costa Rica.

A red and white bus labeled 'San Isidro-San Jose' driving along a rural road in Costa Rica, surrounded by lush greenery and cloudy skies.

A close-up portrait of a woman with long dark hair, wearing a gray hoodie, standing in front of a natural outdoor background with greenery and distant structures.

A memorial display featuring a smiling photograph of Ricky, surrounded by artwork, lavender, and a heartfelt message of love and remembrance.

My son’s legacy lives on through charity. I will forever be grateful to the Herbert T. and Marian S. Weston Foundation for sustaining the Ricky Dawkins Jr. Memorial Scholarship fund. My thanks to the Cohen family of Nebraska for this precious gift.