This blog is replete with stories about how important birthdays are to the trio, and that is probably axiomatic for all children. Birthdays are huge. Therefore, when their PawPaw passed away in November, they, characteristically, were discussing his birthday in the days following. What would we do now? Our tradition was to have a birthday lunch either the weekend before/after the actual date, and we always called to sing "Happy Birthday". Fun fact: We always called twice. First, we had the live conversation, and then we called back a second time so that he could let the call go to voicemail, where he could record a second version of the song. Then he played the recorded version for his Sunday School class or whomever else he encountered that month.
As they grappled to understand the loss, they wanted to know how we would handle his birthday on February 11th. Complicating the issue is the fact that there is no final resting place, as my dad's only instructions were to toss his ashes up into the wind. Instead of trying to create some clever or new tradition, we went with the tried and true basics and set out to allow them the opportunity to remember, honor and celebrate. Simply... we sang and released three balloons in the wind.
I like to think he heard them.
PS: Today is my brother's birthday. Yea for more singing!
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