Vanessa and Kobe Bryant.Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty
Vanessa Bryantwished her late husband, NBA legendKobe Bryant, a Happy Valentine’s Day on Tuesday with a cute photo and video from their long marriage.
First, Vanessashared a sweet throwback photoof the couple, writing, “Happy Valentine’s Day Boo-Boo @kobebryant,” with a heart emoji. “Forever & Always.”
“I think I would describe love as happiness,” Bryant said in the video. He went on to explain, “I think I’d describe it as a beautiful journey. It has its ups and downs, whether it’s in a marriage, whether it’s in a career. Things are never perfect, but through love, you continue to persevere.”
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant.Vanessa Bryant/Instagram
Kobe continued in the video: “I think love is a certain determination. A persistence to go through the good times and the bad times with someone or something that you truly love.”
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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant.Vanessa Bryant/instagram
It’s been three years since the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, that killed Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter,Gianna, and seven others:John Altobelli,Keri Altobelli,Alyssa Altobelli,Sarah Chester, Payton Chester,Christina Mauserand pilotAra Zobayan. The group was on their way to a youth basketball game.
At the time of his death, Kobe was four years into his retirement from the NBA and had positioned himself at the helm of prominent business interests including his basketball camp, theMamba Sports Academy, and his multimedia agency, Granity Studios, which produced the 2018 Academy Award-winning animated short filmDear Basketballand severalNew York Timesbest-selling novels.
After winning five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe is still regularly ranked as one of the best basketball players of all time, alongside other greats likeMichael JordanandLeBron James.
Since his death, Vanessa has shared many tributes to her husband and daughter, including an Instagram post in August remembering him on what would have beenhis 44th birthday. She also spoke at a public memorial for him and Gianna on Feb. 24, 2020, nearly a month after their deaths.
Taylor Hill/Getty Images
“She had the best laugh,” Vanessa said of Giannaat the celebration of life. “It was infectious, it was pure and genuine. Kobe and Gianna naturally gravitated toward each other. "
Vanessa paid tribute to her husband’s love of fatherhood, saying, “Kobe was the MVP of girl dads, or MVD. He never left the toilet seat up. He always told the girls how beautiful and smart they are. He taught them how to be brave.”
Kobe Bryant.Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty
“We loved each other with our whole beings,” she continued, “two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful family and raising our sweet and amazing girls.”
Two weeks before the one-year anniversary of the crash, Vanessa openedup on Instagram about dealing with grief.
“One day you’re in the moment laughing and the next day you don’t feel like being alive,” she wrote. “I want to say this for people struggling with grief and heartbreaking loss. Find your reason to live. I know it’s hard.”
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“Death is guaranteed but living the rest of the day isn’t,” Vanessa added. “Find your reason.”
Two years ago, Vanessa also accepted Kobe’s posthumous Naismith Memorial BasketballHall of Fame honoras part of the 2020 class.
“There will never be anyone like Kobe. Kobe was one of a kind. He was special, he was humble off the court but bigger than life,” she said in her 12-minute speech at the event.
“To all of our close friends and family that have been present for my girls and I, thank you,” she added. “That list is long and it takes a village but know that your kindness and love does not go unappreciated. I know that Kobe is thankful that you’re all coming through for his girls.”
source: people.com
