It's possible that no birthday has characterized the compassionate, caring man you have become more than this one. It was a day that carried such heavy sorrow and responsibility, yet you did not once complain or focus on yourself. I am thankful that in the midst of tears and tiredness, with the help of Terri and Dave we could set just a few moments aside to remember the gift of you.
The night before your birthday, we slipped away for prayer and presence with a dying friend. We did not know it was our last goodbye to dear, sweet Isabel who deeply valued your ministry and relationship with their family. The news reached us in the wee hours and I wept my way through the night as you fitfully slept. The morning of your birthday, a request reached us to help another family with a need that took us downtown on a masked errand in this still new-to-us era of contagion and COVID-19. The afternoon of your birthday, you drove to deliver a meal to our grieving friends; and the evening of your birthday, we joined them in a small gathering to honor Isabel's life. We were asked to share some words, which was such a privilege to us.
This picture was taken in the brief recess of your birthday when for one short hour we sat as adults and friends and family around the Fishers' new dining room table with a takeout meal from a favorite restaurant and Terri's delicious homemade broccoli soup as an appetizer. Two doors down, the cousins enjoyed spaghetti and camaraderie and some shelter from the sorrow as they kept one another company through their own lunch.
My dear Sweets, your birthday gift was to have been a getaway together and we had even found a great deal at one of the hotels we like most. But that, too, was taken away due to the world's current crisis. So "Happy Birthday" may not seem like the best words to wish you on a day that held so many emotions but I do wish you all the happiness you can hold - because I love you and am so blessed to be your wife.
All my love today and always,
Stephanie
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