Birthdays and Banquets

I carry this gratitude and grief side by side

May 3 this year would be Olivia’s 25th birthday. Ten with her, fifteen without her. The second number continues to grow, the first forever fixed at ten. Our family will gather and probably head to the museum or to the park or to the river to keep occupied. It’s different every year, but also the same. Some years the kids have had to work and for the past few years our daughter Naomi has been living in Alaska and only makes it home once a year at the most and saves that trip for Christmas. We may grab a bite out before coming back to the house where Jane will have a birthday cake ready. I’ll be numb and trying to remember to breathe. 

Five days later, on May 11th, we’ll have our annual fundraiser for Olivia’s Basket, the home building project that was started in response to Olivia’s tragic death. This year