Today is my little brother John’s 60th birthday! Kalei’s ‘Nuncle (that is what she called him folks) John and Aunty Carol live in Saskatchewan. They are grain farmers. Poor John, being born into a farming/ranching family and then becoming one himself, meant more often than not his birthday was smack dab in the middle of harvest. That meant no parties and often little or no time for birthday celebrations. That was not going to happen on his 60th! Conspiring with Aunty…..
After Kalei was born, that day became the singularly most important date in my yearly calendar. Without fail, and regardless of financial ability, I always arranged for a special party and birthday celebration for my Sweetie Pie. I loved doing them and she loved having them. Even in her later teenage years, when her friends were far more important than her old mom, I managed to get some mother-daughter birthday time. This was her last one… …..
One of the biggest challenges I faced when writing Forever Kalei’s Mom was coming up with effective words to illustrate the unimaginable emotions and thoughts associated with grief. That same challenge was present when it came to explaining to my support system what I needed and did not need when it came to regular universe event days such as my birthday. What worked in my Lifetime Ago did not fit in my new world and different life but I was helpless to explain that. My 50th birthday (Chapter 22) is a perfect example of how…..