A memorial video to my wife Irene Toal - My One And Only Love

I was totally devastated when my wife died six months ago. Still am. Don't know when this awful feeling of loss, sadness and emptiness will end. Maybe it never will. With no kids of our own, we just lived in each other's pockets. So when breast cancer finally stole Irene's future, it took mine too. I just adored her.
One thing has sustained me and continues to do so. It's the knowledge that a host of other people adored her too. Not just her immediate family -- sisters, nephews, grand nephews and nieces -- but scores of friends and workmates. Many of the 250 or so people who appeared at her funeral spoke about her cheerfulness, infectious laughter, and the way she could brighten up rooms because of the interest in and concern for others that she always exuded wherever she went.
We weren't religious. Nevertheless, Irene faced up to the looming tsunami with serenity and courage. I squandered time scrabbling for miracle cancer cures.
Logic tells me that death is final. I hope I'm wrong. But I know for sure that the crematorium isn't really the ideal place for a lasting memorial. So in this new age of the internet, I've come here to post mine. It's just a collage of video and still photos set to music. The music is 'My One And Only Love', a slushy, romantic old song that was one of Irene's favourites. The singer is me, her husband.
I couldn't have afforded copyright fees to music publishers and record companies for a rendition by one of the many musical masters who've covered this song. I did the next best thing and paid the music copyright fee. That way the post will stay on the web, hopefully as long as the 22 years we spent together!
Forgive the performance. Forgive the photos if they seem like a travelogue (they are - we loved cities, museums and pavement cafes). It's a declaration of my love for the woman I married and my gratitude for the good luck I had in finding her. Putting it all on 'You Tube' seems to me the only way that we can be together again - permanently. However, there's another purpose too.
Irene's GSERA workmates have started a 'Just Giving' page in her name. They aim to keep her memory alive by collecting funds for Irene's nominated charity -- Glasgow's Beatson Oncology Centre, a working cancer hospital with a strong research input. If you'd like to contribute, the link is http://www.justgiving.com/Siobhan-Dickson123 . Who knows? Your pound, dollar or Euro might be the one that makes a difference in discovering a cure for this scourge. On the other hand, if you'd just like to leave a message or light a candle, visit Irene's page at http://www.yourannouncement.co.uk/9207741?s_source=nqgl_her .
One last piece of advice. Take lots of photos and video of your loved ones just doing everyday things. Of all the reams of video footage of cities and scenery that I took over the years, the clip on this video is the only one I have of my dear wife's laughter. And she laughed a lot.
Eddie Toal

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Music

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• my one and only love
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• Eddie Toal
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• breast cancer
• Beatson
• Beatson Oncology Centre
• funeral song
• in loving memory
• music
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• memorial songs for loved ones
• songs played at funeral
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• Edward Toal
• Cover Song

[mmmmmmmac7]

Hello Eddie, Syd Preston told me of your wife's sad passing. That video is a beautiful thing to have done in her memory. I get up to Glasgow a couple of times a year, so we must meet up. Once again, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Bob McLeod