good grief

It was a packed weekend, as it had promised to be. We are just starting to get back to normal around here, though the birthday cards are still up and the new presents haven't yet all been examined. Our little guy loved his pizza and pool party Saturday afternoon and all the fanfare that went along with it. The big highlight for him was when his dad sneaked him down the water slide (it's a big one, you have to walk up about 3 flights of stairs to get to the top.) He can't stop talking about it. It's good motivation for him to work on his swimming. You have to be able to swim by yourself to go down. A few lessons and some practice time in the water should do it. Before long he'll be slipping and sliding all by himself.

Also Saturday afternoon we got a visit from Preppy Rider, who stopped by on her way to visit her parents. We met little Margaux Patricia, and let me tell you, she is a doll! It was so nice to see my sweet friend. Never mind what she is writing on her blog, she is a natural mom, with all the confidence and grace in the world. She looks great, too. I kept telling her that I can't believe she just had a baby. You should see her in action, she's already a pro.

Saturday night my husband and both of our parents attended a black tie dinner dance, a fundraiser for a cause that is close to our hearts. Part of the evening was a live auction, which was fun to watch. Afterwards there was a band, dancing, more fun. It was great to just be out, all dressed up. When was the last time we did that? Too long ago.


And yet with all the happiness of the weekend, there was sadness, too. My dad's younger sister, Marie, died Saturday afternoon after an intense battle with ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed in the fall and fought all through the winter. She was just a year younger than my dad. Last week she was strong enough to visit with my parents when they saw her in the hospital, but she had developed pneumonia in the last several days and couldn't keep up her fight.

Reading over this post, I realize that something my mom said this weekend rings true. Saturday we were all witness to the circle of life. A young boy's birthday, a new baby, sad news on the phone about a life taken much too soon. Tremendous happiness balanced by grief. You can't understand one without the other, you wouldn't want to. It just makes you grateful for every day. Even the days without parties and balloons.