Family Birthdays

Dear Aaron,

Tomorrow is David's birthday and we start another round of sibling birthdays without you. When we add in the sibling spouses and your niece and nephews, well, they come pretty fast and furious. 

I mean, Barrett's 1st birthday was in January and Kensey's back in December after you passed, so I guess we already started.

But tomorrow is David's, and Sarah's on Friday and then Jonny next week. Elend and Sterling follow not too far after that. 

And on and on...

Somehow time keeps moving on, but I feel torn. I'm stuck back on December 23rd, 2023 when you left, and still have to move forward, mostly because there really isn't any other option. But I still don't understand, not really. 

I look back through pictures and see your smile, see you grow. You loved science and were fascinated by the gecko. You found riding on the horse exhilarating. You loved going to David's soccer games, and I think you may have been the only warm one there. 

You lived a full life, my son. You did more, experienced more challenges, and found more joy in your 13 1/2 years than I think most do in 80-plus. You seemed to know that you had to make the most of every minute. 

That extra chromosome may have made your body frail, but I think it strengthened your spirit and allowed it to shine through. 

I love you, Aaron. I love you so much. 

Miss you, too.

Love,
Mama

Time is the school in which we learn,

Time is the fire in which we burn.

~Delmore Schwartz