Almost the last “first”

I guess I have to face the fact that tomorrow is a holiday. Sierra is not coming home since I just saw her and she will be here later this week. Camille just came home from Europe tonight and I’ve told both sides of the family that I wasn’t sure how she would feel tomorrow. So, I have no definite plans, but invitations to two family events. Camille stayed awake on the entire flight home so she is sleeping now and may very well be up to doing something tomorrow. Which means that I can’t pretend it isn’t a holiday.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my family! I love being with them and I’m sure we will make time to go to both parties tomorrow and I’ll be glad I went. I would just prefer that it was just another day, not a holiday that I will be spending without Patrick. And once again, these feelings have caught me off guard.

This is the second to last first and I guess I will be glad to have those behind me but I don’t think that these days will magically be easier in year two. Mother’s Day is just around the corner and that was not a good day for me last year! So, fair warning to my family, I might be making some different plans this year.

Last Easter and I think a few before that we spent in Shaver at Dina & Jeff’s. Zia Dina made her famous jello eggs and had eggs filled with candy and change. The teenagers had fun hiding eggs for the younger kids. The guys helped Jeff move a bathtub up the stairs into an apartment he was building outside. Patrick was calling it his apartment. He loved to be up there and especially loved spending time with Jeff and Dina. I’m sure he would have stayed up there as soon as it was finished. He probably would have given them a list of requirements and I’m sure “stocked with beer” would have been at the top of the list! I wish I had a picture of them moving that bathtub. I really thought it was going to be dropped and someone would be badly hurt or worse!

Here is a picture of the girls from last Easter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick loved to dye Easter eggs with the girls. I wasn’t into it as much but they would all talk me into participating.  Mine were usually pretty boring but he was always trying to do something fancy with his and they usually turned out pretty good.

Patrick watching Sierra hunt Easter eggs at Nona & Opa’s house, 1999.

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t imagine what any of these holidays would be like if the girls were younger. I know widows with young children and my heart breaks for them. I’m not saying it is any easier for my girls but I am eternally grateful that they spent their childhood with their Dad. There’s still a lot he will miss but they have years of good memories that I know they will cherish.

Happy first Easter in heaven Patrick!