The party wasn’t set to start till 2:00 but Dan from American Bounce Company came to set up the Spiderman bounce house around 9:00 this morning. Nic and Chris thoroughly tested the bounce house while we finished getting everything set up in the house and yard. We knew it would be crowded, we were expecting about 70 people, and we wanted to make sure we had enough room inside and out so everyone would be comfortable.
Folks started showing up a little before 2:00. Even though we were all well aware of the occasion, everyone was in a merry mood. The bounce house seemed to help set the tone for the day. As soon as anyone would arrive, walking up the driveway they were greeted by squeals of laughter from the children as they careened through the air within the netted walls. As the day continued the young ones would occasionally get evicted from the enclosure so the grownups could have a turn, leaving no doubt that some of us are still kids at heart.
After most everyone had arrived and the pot luck lunch was all set up on the fully extended dining room table we all gathered in the back yard for a little memory ceremony. Nic and Chris each wrote a message to their dad telling him a little about how they were doing and how much they miss him. We attached the notes to the ribbons of two purple helium balloons. After Pastor Mark said a prayer to give thanks for the day, for the food, and for Steve’s life, the boys let the balloons go. Each balloon floated slowly up over our heads then drifted east where they got hung up for several moments in the tall eucalyptus tree that towers over the garage, Steve telling us he’s still here in each of us. As more than 60 of us stood watching the balloons, holding our collective breath, the breeze nudged them loose and sent them drifting in a northerly direction where they disappeared behind the hill.
When the balloons were out of our sight (but still drifting somewhere), the knot of friends and family untangled and drifted to the heavy laden dining room table to enjoy one of Steve’s favorite activities. We ate! We thought of making a plate for Steve but that just didn’t seem right. We had no doubt that he would not be there to eat and he was never one to waste food.
We talked and visited late into the evening. Several people wrote in the “Memories of Steve” book I had set out. They wrote some special, personal memories of Steve, some made me cry and some made me laugh.
I’m so glad we decided to do this party. It gave me something to look forward to and something to keep my mind occupied as this first anniversary of Steve’s death approached. It really was a day set aside to celebrate Steve’s life in a very meaningful way. This is what we do, what we’ve always done, share with friends and family.
I’m also glad I set out the “Memories of Steve” book. Now I have some new treasures there to mine at my leisure.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
July 23, 2004
Today marked the first anniversary of Steve’s passing. My body must have thought it was yesterday, this being leap year making that 365 days, I did feel down. But this morning I woke up feeling pretty good. My first thought of the day was, of course, the date and its significance. My second thought was “Nett and Chris will be here soon!” They were flying in from Tennessee this morning and Nick was picking them up at Lindberg Field at noon.
I hadn’t seen Nett and Chris since Thanksgiving. It felt so good to scoop Chris up in my arms and squeeze the waddin’ out of him!
Even though Nett and I talk on the phone a few times a week it was good to sit on the sofa with her, Amy, Marisa, Janiece and Robyn and catch up. Chris was disappointed that Kirstie and Kyle are visiting their dad and can’t be here for his visit but once he got over that he headed outside to climb the tree and chase the kittens. As he played outside, Nett told us some funny, some touching, four-year-old Chris stories.
One day a few months ago when they were paying for their groceries, Chris started telling the cashier all about his daddy dying. The cashier wasn’t quite sure if he was telling the truth so she looked to Nett for confirmation. After Nett gave her a subtle nod the cashier leaned over the counter and told Chris, “My daddy died when I was about your age. I was sad for a long time but I’m okay now.” Chris smiled at her and just went on about something else he found interesting.
We planned a big family dinner for tonight serving Steve’s favorite birthday meal as our menu ~ enchiladas with all the trimmings. At about 4:00 we got busy in the kitchen putting the meal together. We stood side by side at the stovetop and kitchen counter and worked assembly line style building the enchiladas. I softened the corn tortillas in hot oil then dropped them one at a time into the pie plate full of enchilada sauce. Nett retrieved them from the pie plate, laid them in the big stainless steel roasting pan, and added the cheese. From there Marisa took over and added the chopped olives and green onions, and then Amy rolled them up. I can’t remember what we talked about but there wasn’t a quiet moment as we stood talking, working, and laughing. It was like any other time we get together in the kitchen.
As we cooked Janiece and Robyn pulled out the dining room table to its full length and set it for dinner. Tonight we all wanted to sit together to have our meal instead of scattered around the living room and dining room.
As we enjoyed our meal we told “Steve stories”, at least half of which took place in the desert. Some I could have lived out my days never having heard! Like near misses and crashes that could have been so much worse than they were. Or being so hungry one night "Someone" broke into a Frito-Lay truck for snacks. Arrrggghhhh! I have to admit, though...I laughed so hard I cried!
What could have been such a solemn and depressing evening was instead filled with joyful stories and laughter.
Tomorrow is the party. We’re pretty much ready though we still have a few things to do outside.
I hadn’t seen Nett and Chris since Thanksgiving. It felt so good to scoop Chris up in my arms and squeeze the waddin’ out of him!
Even though Nett and I talk on the phone a few times a week it was good to sit on the sofa with her, Amy, Marisa, Janiece and Robyn and catch up. Chris was disappointed that Kirstie and Kyle are visiting their dad and can’t be here for his visit but once he got over that he headed outside to climb the tree and chase the kittens. As he played outside, Nett told us some funny, some touching, four-year-old Chris stories.
One day a few months ago when they were paying for their groceries, Chris started telling the cashier all about his daddy dying. The cashier wasn’t quite sure if he was telling the truth so she looked to Nett for confirmation. After Nett gave her a subtle nod the cashier leaned over the counter and told Chris, “My daddy died when I was about your age. I was sad for a long time but I’m okay now.” Chris smiled at her and just went on about something else he found interesting.
We planned a big family dinner for tonight serving Steve’s favorite birthday meal as our menu ~ enchiladas with all the trimmings. At about 4:00 we got busy in the kitchen putting the meal together. We stood side by side at the stovetop and kitchen counter and worked assembly line style building the enchiladas. I softened the corn tortillas in hot oil then dropped them one at a time into the pie plate full of enchilada sauce. Nett retrieved them from the pie plate, laid them in the big stainless steel roasting pan, and added the cheese. From there Marisa took over and added the chopped olives and green onions, and then Amy rolled them up. I can’t remember what we talked about but there wasn’t a quiet moment as we stood talking, working, and laughing. It was like any other time we get together in the kitchen.
As we cooked Janiece and Robyn pulled out the dining room table to its full length and set it for dinner. Tonight we all wanted to sit together to have our meal instead of scattered around the living room and dining room.
As we enjoyed our meal we told “Steve stories”, at least half of which took place in the desert. Some I could have lived out my days never having heard! Like near misses and crashes that could have been so much worse than they were. Or being so hungry one night "Someone" broke into a Frito-Lay truck for snacks. Arrrggghhhh! I have to admit, though...I laughed so hard I cried!
What could have been such a solemn and depressing evening was instead filled with joyful stories and laughter.
Tomorrow is the party. We’re pretty much ready though we still have a few things to do outside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)