Happy Wedding Day

As I'm writing this the church bells by my home are ringing and since it's 5:18 p.m., I'm assuming it's because someone just got married. How appropriate since at this very minute, somewhere in Nantucket, Mass. I'm sure that my brother-in-law is newly married himself. Today is the big day and it's been on all our minds. We received one photo of the bride-to-be with rollers in her hair but other than that, we've been completely in the dark about the days events.

It leads me to think of my own wedding day and what it was like. There were no nerves. We had been together for 5 years and I knew he was the one for me after we dated for a couple of weeks. While our ceremony was short, it was special because we were married by my husband's uncle (and godfather).

I know my brother-in-law is really in love. He is doing things I never imagined he would ever do. And it goes both ways. I'm sure a year ago she never envisioned that she would be making cupcakes decorated with the Brewers logo for opening day.

So as the bells wind down I'm imagining their first toast as husband and wife. And as Uncle Luke would say, "Happy Days. Happy Days."

What If?

Our elementary school has made an incredible effort to consistently communicate what is going on in the classroom. Each week we get a newsletter from the teachers and on the back is usually some kind of worksheet that the kids can fill out.
While I was going through my son's backpack today, I found his weekly sheet. On the back was a "What If" questionnaire with various questions. My favorite was #5, not so much for the response as for the accompanying picture. I laughed out loud for a long time.

Response to #5

Picture of bruised legs

Sometimes as a parent you expect so much of your kids. Then you get something like this and it reminds you that they are still just children...bruised legs, knobby knees, and all!

My Baby's Birthday

The other night I was out with my friends and we were talking about spirituality and positive energy. There is a belief that signs are all around, you just have to be open to receiving them. One thing I believe in is that when a spirit leaves this world it is replaced. It happened when my sister felt her son kick as my grandpa was dying.

Today is my daughter's 8th birthday and I always think of the story behind her birth. My in-laws were the first to arrive at the hospital early in the morning. For some reason, I asked about their friend Anne in Appleton who was sick. My mother-in-law told me that they had recently been to visit her and basically they were just keeping her comfortable. She knew it would probably be their last visit.

When my in-laws returned home from visiting us in the hospital, there was a message on the machine letting them know that Anne had passed away during the night. We commented on how their souls probably passed one another. Later on my mother-in-law found out for the first time that Anne's real name was Irene Anne. It inspired her to write this poem:

Convergence

She lay in a warm cocoon
under her mother's heart,
lulled into security by the sound
of its life-affirming beat.
Though outside voices called her by name,
urging her entrance into their circle,
she was in no hurry to change,
choosing to delay her arrival
for reasons of her own.

Another also lay in warm comfort,
cushioned by loving hands,
nestled in familiar patterned folds
knit by her mother long ago.
After years of words and action,
she was silent...and content.
She had waited patiently, enduring much,
molding her final days as she had shaped her life...
with resolute courage.
Now she knew the time was ripe,
that she, and the beloved who held her in their hands,
were ready for her leave taking.
She breathed her last
and moved through the dark
into the light and arms she knew awaited her.

Her final love song to all life holds
was heard...and woke the little one
so hesitant to enter the world.
Suddenly she was ready...
and knowing the time was ripe,
eagerly began her own journey into the unknown.
With energy and wild enthusiasm,
with no regard for timing of others,
she rushed through the dark and erupted into the light,
shouting a personal song of triumph.

And both paens of joy
were heard and celebrated
as the two Irenes
made their presence known.

Happy Birthday my dear one.

The First

My sister's son is the first born on both sides of the family. The first time my sister felt him kick was February 14, 1987. She sat holding my grandpa's hand, and as he drew his last breath she felt the baby inside her stir.

Both of my mother's parents were still alive when he was born so he was their first great-grandchild. On one visit to Florida when he was just a baby, my sister dressed him in a bow tie to match his great-grandfather's and they went out for dinner. My grandfather was so proud he carried him around the restaurant to show him off to the other diners.
He was the first to take swimming lessons...diaper dippers. The first to go to the zoo and eat an ice cream cone. The first to go to school. The first to study abroad (note to my dad: that means overseas, not women!) Tomorrow he will be the first to graduate from college and this summer he will be the first to leave home.

Being the first is a burden and a blessing. He seems to have taken it all in stride. I'm most proud of the way he has taken advantage of the many opportunities available to him and set an example for his younger sisters and cousins. While in so many ways he may be the first, one thing is for sure...he won't be the last!

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Swine flu be dammed! It's the 5th of May and we're celebrating. Taco Tuesday and it's all you can eat. While there isn't a drop of Mexican blood to be found in our family it's one of our favorite celebrations. Isn't everyone Irish on St. Patrick's Day?

So put on your sombrero, slice up some limes, salt the glasses, and throw caution to the wind. It's Cinco de Mayo.

The Swine Flu...not just for pigs anymore

My brother sent me this cartoon today. Pretty timely. I was having a discussion with some friends this morning (one of whom is a nurse). I wanted to know whether she thought the swine flu was something to worry about or whether it's just a slow news cycle and the media is all over it.

We decided it's the latter. I'm sure we will continue to get updates ad nauseam until the next big story breaks at which time the swine flu will become a distant memory. Then we will all be left with an abundant supply of hand sanitizer and surgical masks.

It's almost like the old question, if a tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? I wonder what would happen if I just stopped watching the news.