It's 2:16, what did you get me?

Today, the Blond Child's Mother is supposed to be 53. Of course, if she were still here, I wouldn't have put it quite that way, lol. I suppose she'll let it slip this time, but I'll probably try to word it a little more tactfully next time. I took flowers and balloons down to the cemetery today, it just felt like the thing to do. And then, after that, I went shopping in her honor. Bought myself a new sweatshirt and a pair of sandals. Bought some squeaky tennis balls for the dogs today too.

She would have approved.

It's well documented that she and both of her girls could work their way around the mall. I guess I must have learned a thing or two from them. How could I not?

I had a couple people check up on me today, I told them I was fine. I am too. Really. Last year I think was more difficult than this year, probably because it was my first with the pirate. This year, I was more prepared for it. That makes a difference, I believe. If you can anticipate an event, you can kind of not be surprised by it or by the rush of feelings you may feel. The firsts are, of course, always difficult. But the seconds can be too and I learned that from some more experienced grievers before I got caught off-guard by them and so I was OK. Last year was a "first" for me. Even though it was the 4th birthday since she died, it was the first since the pirate and I had been together and I wasn't as aware of that as I should have been.

This year, I've been looking at today for a couple weeks or so. As a result, today has been a pretty smooth day for me. I checked on the middle child to see how she was doing. The pirate is at sea, so we've spoken today, texted back and forth a few times, but she's not expecting to be home til late tonight, so...

Anyway. I've been reminded about the time we took the oldest grandchild to Disney On Ice (Thanks for making me smile today C!) and how much fun we had. It was, I think 2005 at the United Center and we had sweet seats about four or five rows off the ice. He had a smile from ear-to-ear and so did his Nana. Me too. I've still got his picture on the fridge. The cheesy (no pun intended) picture frame (get it? Disney?? Mouse??? Cheesy????) fell apart a year or so ago, but the picture is still there. Him with a couple of the most famous mice America has ever produced.

So, all things considered, today has been a pretty good day. Weather was beautiful, especially for February in Northern Illinois, went to the cemetery, stopped in at the old hometown for a little business, a little shopping and hung out with the dogs.

Not a bad day at all.

Oh yeah, about the title... The BCM would invariably look at a digital clock at 2:16 and say

"Hey! It's my birthday! What did you get me?" And then flash one of her smiles.

Every so often, at 2:16, I'll get a text from the middle child that reads "Hey, It's my birthday..." and I always smile at the memory.