Anniversary Week

A year ago our household was filled with stress, of a good nature! Our family was madly scrambling in preparation for our son Chuck’s wedding to delightful Jenny on October 18. Chuck and Jenny are both extremely organized and excellent planners, so in reality we didn’t have all that much to do. Their goal for their wedding was for all of their family and friends to enjoy themselves.

They did not disappoint. After all of us worrying about the possibility of rain, the skies cleared in anticipation of the wedding party procession, with a rainbow appearing in the distance as the Brother Iz song Somewhere Over the Rainbow played. It was a sign that Granpa was with us all the way. Jenny was radiant as her Dad walked her down the path, and Chuck was beaming awaiting her arrival. After Pastor Bruce pronounced them husband and wife, they bopped down the aisle to the beat of one of Chuck’s jumpy songs that he had selected.

We couldn’t have had more fun or have been happier, because we were so happy for them. And Chuck and Jenny in turn were so pleased that everyone had a good time. The guests were a mix of family and friends, each of whom was very special to our kids or to us. I even got to do skanking with Chuck, a goofy reggae music dance that I never really figured out but I tried despite two left feet and little rhythm. Granpa’s music talent skipped me and went directly to Chuck and Max.

The Family and Friends Plan worked for my surgery as well. A good friend has remarked that the close bond of our family has been with us through happy times as well as crisis and stress and it was there when it was needed most. Distance doesn’t really matter. Chuck and Max were with us every step of the way, and our steps clearly seem closer these days. Friends were a critical source of good advice, laughter and insights. Some prayed for a miracle, others offered practical advice or both, and yet others offered to come to help with the upcoming recovery process. Every one of them made me feel stronger than I did the day before.

Chuck and Jenny have had a busy first year of traveling and working and even entertaining us when we visited them in Seattle for Hal’s birthday. Like their wedding planning, they worked hard at making sure we all had a good celebration for Hal. It is that spirit of caring for others that was evident in our family and friends when it came time to face the reality of my situation.