It's been 10 years. But never a day passes when it gets any easier.
In two days time I'll be 33, and there'll be a party to celebrate my comin' of age. Nothin' grand or fancy like Frodo's. Just me an' the Gaffer, an' the boys down at the Dragon. Havin' a few ales to celebrate.
I've done well I'd say, for someone barely an adult. The gaffer taught me all he knows, and now I've surpassed him, or so Mr. Bilbo said, but I don't hold with that. Anyhow, he resigned a couple of years after you left, so it were up to me to keep the gardens at Bag End.
'You brought him up proper,' folks tell dad. 'Good head on his shoulders for one so young.'
I remember you tellin' him the exact same things all those years ago, which makes the compliments the more harder to bear.
They say you're still here, that you live on through me. They don't say it to my face, but I've heard them often enough. Same kindred spirit, always eager to help. I don't know whether it's by choice or by nature, but I vowed to keep your memory alive. If all the inhabitants of the Shire see in me were the youngest lad of Bell Goodchild, then that would please me more than anythin'.
But I can't make up for your absence. The world was cruel to take you away from your family so young. To not see your children grow up into the hobbits you helped to shape. For I wish you could see me now mum, see how far I've come. I want to hear you say you're proud of me, and that you always knew I'd find my place in life.
Nothing makes me happier than being rooted within the earth. And if I thought they were telling the truth, I'd believe the folks in Hobbiton when they say I'm the finest gardener since way back when. But my only wish is to keep the Shire beautiful. So that wherever you may be now, you can look upon it, and remember the happy times you spent here.
Where your grave lies, it's a splendorous sight. The flowers are ever blooming, and there's nay a weed in sight. Bluebells, your favorite.
Truth be told I spend far more time tendin' to your plot than is right, but Mr. Frodo doesn't mind. He understands my grief, and encourages me. He's all right Frodo Baggins. I couldn't ask for a nice master.
I invited him to my party, but I'm not sure if he'll come. What would he want with a bunch of workin' class hobbits? The Gaffer says I was a fool to invite him, but he's been so understandin' through my mournin', even these 10 years since.
It breaks my heart that you're gone, because I know you'd want to be here for this party more than anythin' in the world, and that goes for all of your children, even Marigold and Daisy.
You worked your fingers to the bone makin' sure there were always meals on the table, and clothes on our backs. You taught us what was right, and what weren't. You told us that within each of us there were a wonderful, golden person waitin' to bloom, and that we would all grow up to do great things.
It's been 10 years since I heard you tell me you were proud of me, but I got somethin' I want to say to you.
I'm proud of you, and I always have been, and wherever you are now I hope you're at peace. For I can't think of a single person that deserves it more.
In two days time I'll be 33, and there'll be a party to celebrate my comin' of age. Nothin' grand or fancy like Frodo's. Just me an' the Gaffer, an' the boys down at the Dragon. Havin' a few ales to celebrate.
I've done well I'd say, for someone barely an adult. The gaffer taught me all he knows, and now I've surpassed him, or so Mr. Bilbo said, but I don't hold with that. Anyhow, he resigned a couple of years after you left, so it were up to me to keep the gardens at Bag End.
'You brought him up proper,' folks tell dad. 'Good head on his shoulders for one so young.'
I remember you tellin' him the exact same things all those years ago, which makes the compliments the more harder to bear.
They say you're still here, that you live on through me. They don't say it to my face, but I've heard them often enough. Same kindred spirit, always eager to help. I don't know whether it's by choice or by nature, but I vowed to keep your memory alive. If all the inhabitants of the Shire see in me were the youngest lad of Bell Goodchild, then that would please me more than anythin'.
But I can't make up for your absence. The world was cruel to take you away from your family so young. To not see your children grow up into the hobbits you helped to shape. For I wish you could see me now mum, see how far I've come. I want to hear you say you're proud of me, and that you always knew I'd find my place in life.
Nothing makes me happier than being rooted within the earth. And if I thought they were telling the truth, I'd believe the folks in Hobbiton when they say I'm the finest gardener since way back when. But my only wish is to keep the Shire beautiful. So that wherever you may be now, you can look upon it, and remember the happy times you spent here.
Where your grave lies, it's a splendorous sight. The flowers are ever blooming, and there's nay a weed in sight. Bluebells, your favorite.
Truth be told I spend far more time tendin' to your plot than is right, but Mr. Frodo doesn't mind. He understands my grief, and encourages me. He's all right Frodo Baggins. I couldn't ask for a nice master.
I invited him to my party, but I'm not sure if he'll come. What would he want with a bunch of workin' class hobbits? The Gaffer says I was a fool to invite him, but he's been so understandin' through my mournin', even these 10 years since.
It breaks my heart that you're gone, because I know you'd want to be here for this party more than anythin' in the world, and that goes for all of your children, even Marigold and Daisy.
You worked your fingers to the bone makin' sure there were always meals on the table, and clothes on our backs. You taught us what was right, and what weren't. You told us that within each of us there were a wonderful, golden person waitin' to bloom, and that we would all grow up to do great things.
It's been 10 years since I heard you tell me you were proud of me, but I got somethin' I want to say to you.
I'm proud of you, and I always have been, and wherever you are now I hope you're at peace. For I can't think of a single person that deserves it more.