A thank-you note from a grateful mom
Two days after the NJSPBA Hockey Team and the NJ State Police Ice Hockey Club played a charity game to support Mallory’ s Army, Dianne Grossman, the mother of Mallory Rose, who took her own life because of horrific cyberbullying, posted the following words of thanks on Facebook:
At the Jan. 9 PBA state meeting, the NJSPBA Hockey team along with President Pat Colligan and Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar presented a donation to Dianne and Seth Grossman for Mallory’ s Army from funds raised at the game against the NJ State Police Ice Hockey Club on Dec. 19.
December 31, 2017 at 6:44pm I’ ve waited all day to post... thinking at some point leaving 2017 would be easier for us. It’ s not... The tag line“ bitter sweet” is more appropriate now than ever... Days leading up to Friday night’ s PBA hockey game... it was clear to me Christmas doesn’ t hurt really... leaving the year she died is brutal. Sadness ran deep these days, rivers of tears burned my skin once again, you don’ t die from the pain, sadly... it’ s exactly how they say it... You eventually get used to it... How it is possible to get used to this type of ache, but you do... it becomes as predictable as every other day to day routine. Friday is here, I swing by the salon, for the tickets... A familiar safe place... warm faces rush over... they instantly see what they feared, my face shows it all... The gps guides me through traffic... wish we all had a gps for life... Turn left to avoid the most tragic day in your life... Road ahead closed, make a safe U turn. We rush to the doors to escape the cold. Imagine an ice rink warmer than outside... we laugh. Fake humor like a masquerade mask... A sea of blue is before us... smiles of pure warmth... I’ ve felt this a few times... I never get tired of it. It immediately softens the pain in my heart... Seeing the policemen & their families... We never forget why we are here... We all know why we are meeting, but we are all so glad we are. The energy / aura of the rink is magnificent. I mean it’ s cold but so warm.... The buzz in the room is like a million bees....
The PBA welcomed Dianne and Seth Grossman to the game against the State Police, played to raise money and awareness for Mallory’ s Army.
She’ s here with us... I can’ t see her, I don’ t feel her in a physical state. In fact, Mallory isn’ t even what I’ m thinking about...
We all know why we are here... In the distant corner are the bagpipes... The sound of them will mark the start of the game... They will also be the sound heard during her funeral... I look up, I ask God don’ t let me fall please... I remind him, I’ m following your guidance... Please don’ t let the sound undo all the work I’ ve done... The pre- game festivities start... Naturally Seth and I are on the wrong side of the rink for the puck drop... I need to get back on the treadmill... the sprint to the right side of the rink, reminded me. The crowd chatter is great... the game begins … Oh, what fun... The game & its cause is a success...
46 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JANUARY 2018