My Dad, my sister, and my grandson.

Every year, I travel to Anchorage in October to facilitate the Village Seminar for the Aleut Corporation.  The meetings are usually held on Thursday and Friday in the 3rd week of October.  If my Mom and Dad fly  in early, I miss Dad’s birthday.  If my sister, Diane, flys up from the lower 48, we celebrate their birthdays together.  (That one doesn’t happen very often.)  There has been one static for the past 7 years….I miss my grandson’s birthday. 

I suppose having been in the room when he was born should count for many years of missed days.  Especially when you take into account what my daughter told me to do to myself  at 4:30 am, after she had been in labor for 37 hours!  (She ended up laboring for 47 hours, I do believe.  I have forgotten, although I am certain she has not.)  And having him in my hotel room on  his first birthday, stark naked on a sheet, indulging in a decadant chocolate first birthday cake (him, not me) counts also. 

I feel extreme guilt when I see the picture of him on his second birthday…his mom was also in Anchorage that year, and SP was home with Grandpa.  Caleb, the wonderman, put a candle in the shape of the number 2 on top of a box of animal crackers.  That was SP’s birthday cake!  He did let SP blow out the candle numerous times…something that they both were very excited about.  I was really excited when Mom said we would have a second little party for him when we got home this year.  Was I ever surprised to find out that, being the last one to fly in a mere 3 days after everyone else, they had the party for him 2 nights before I got home!!  What the hell?? 

So, to break the silence of my blog, I want to wish my Dad, Sam, 83, my sister, Diane, 52,  and my grandson, SP, 8, many, many years.