Last year, I really wasn't in the mood to celebrate my birthday. I was grateful that Sean had made it through his emergency surgery and I rediscovered what awesome extended family and friends I have in the Denver metro area. My grandmother was the oldest of 7 brothers and sisters and the majority of all of their families still live in the Denver Metro area which was truly a blessing last year. Being a true Irish Catholic family my Grandmother had 4 children, mom's God-father Great Uncle Joe and his wife have 10, Great Uncle Gene (may he rest in peace) and his wife had 5, Great Uncle Mel and his wife had 5, Great Uncle Jim and his wife had 1 and then there are mom's twin aunts - Aunt Judy and her husband have 4 children and Aunt Jeanne and her husband (may he rest in peace) had 5 children. I think that's right. Anyway mom has a lot of wonderful family who kept her company during his surgery and while we waited for him to recover. They helped us sort through his insurance paperwork and keep Delaney entertained during the long hours at the hospital. Most of all they keep us feeling loved, supported and hopeful even during the darkest of times. They took turns checking in on Sean when we couldn't be there and bringing us snacks and sitting with him so we could alternate out and stretch our legs. During the nurses shift change we had to be outside the ward anyway and everyone took turns stopping by the hospital to check in and offer support.
Sean's townhouse was just a few miles east of the hospital, and it provided a great resting place for the first few weeks he was in the hospital. We would sleep or take breaks there when needed and Delaney had great time playing on Uncle Sean's stairs and with the collection of toys he keep for her visits. He was still in the process of unpacking and settling in with all of his belongings from his years of bachelorhood in the Air Force, so when we determined it would be best to let go of his townhouse, it made packing him up slightly easier. The aunts, uncles and cousins all pitched in and it was done within a matter of hours. I sat with him at the hospital while everyone packed him up. We drove the moving truck home that night and a crew of mom and dad's friends and co-workers from Rusinak Real Estate all came on Sunday and shifted all of Sean's things into our storage sheds out back and our basement within a few hours. I took Delaney out for the day and when we got back it was done.
Since my birthday is January 31st, the day before Sean's on February 1st, it didn't seem right to celebrate my birthday if he couldn't celebrate his. Logically, my head told me that was even more of a reason to celebrate my birthday because I could. But my heart just wasn't in it. My aunts, uncles and cousins brought Sean a big balloon bouquet, grasshopper cookies and picture of Sean with Delaney from a few weeks before his surgery. The frame was inscribed Family and was of the 2 of them sitting on the stairs at our annual family Christmas celebration. I love that picture. I treasure the pictures I have of Delaney with her Uncle Sean before his surgery. He still lights up around his "D" it's just different now.
It's funny, I started this blog intending to write about how I celebrated my birthday this year, and instead I'm reflecting on the events of last. I have learned that God has a plan for all of us, and reveals it on his timeline not ours. 2009 is a blur for the most part but the lessons I learned are not. Life's too short to have a bad attitude and hold onto negative feelings. Hold onto the lessons the negative taught us and learn from them but not the negativity. Life is too precious and tomorrow is not promised to hold onto it. One very important thing we have control of everyday is our attitude and how we speak to/about, treat, interact with others. Its a little thing that can make a big impact on everyone around us. I'm still working on showing and telling all my friends and family how grateful and blessed I am to have them in my life. Not dwelling on stress and setbacks but working through it and keeping a positive mindset for the big picture. I am also working on living by the "Do or Do Not. There is no try" motto. I am a work in progress and I realize that. One of my favorite quotes from James Dean is "Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die tomorrow".
Perhaps I need to take a more in depth look at one of Delaney's new favorite shows Phineas and Ferb on the Disney channel. My cousin Judy's son Timmy turned her onto it and she loves it. The premise is simple 2 brothers from a blended family try to make the most of everyday during their summer vacation. Each morning they figure out what they are going to do for that day and using a lot of imagination the outrageous adventures begin with their friends in tow. Their older sister Candace's goal in life is to catch them in one of their fanciful adventures and report it to their mother. When she's not being distracted by her own school girl crush on a boy in her grade. Well... I can definitely appreciate the making the most of each day premis.
And on that note I will close with - Carpe diem and to all a good night.
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