Saying "Happy Birthday" to your son in person should not be difficult, should not be a challenge, and definitely should not be impossible, but for the past eight May 26ths, it has been for me. Today, Darrel would have been a 15 year old young man, who probably wouldn't want his parents (especially his father) making a Big Deal out of his birthday, or telling stories about the silly things that he did when he was younger, but looking back is all I am able to do, with no new memories to create in the future with him. It is often somewhat burdensome to write these blogs on May 26ths and September 9ths, because I know there isn't really much more to add about Darrel. I can certainly reminisce about our brief times together (which I will undoubtedly continue to do), but for any of you that have been following these entries over the years, you have likely heard them all before. They can still bring a smile to my face, or a tear to my eye, but sometimes it gets to the point where I even I think I sound like a broken record (for those that remember what that means).
There are constant reminders of Darrel for me almost every day, and places, that for good or bad, have some kind of meaning. Last weekend, I was at Canada's Wonderland, and walking around the Park, there were a few places that stirred flashbacks to the one and only time we were there with Darrel. Whether it be pushing around him in the wheelchair, carrying him (Air-Lifts) through the line-ups for the rides he wanted to go on, the delighted horror after his first (and unfortunately only) roller coaster, or simply the corner of a Pavilion where we sat to have an ice cream after lunch, I couldn't help but take at least a brief second or two to reflect on those moments. Some feel it isn't healthy to dwell too much on the past, but when the past is all I have, I will dwell whenever, and for how ever long I wish too.
Usually Darrel's Birthday Blogs talk a bit about my attending the Mitchell Fraser Slo Pitch Tournament (as it was always held at the end of May), but it was decided by the Fraser family that last year was to be the final one. As time goes on, it can become more trying to sustain and maintain an event such as that, regardless of how successful it is/was. On a much smaller scale, my decision to stop having "Team Darrel" participate in the local Relay for Life, probably came about much the same way. While part of me wanted us to carry on with the Relay, I could see that several of the others didn't necessarily feel the same desire to attend as much as I did. I'm sure they would have come out to support me in that endeavour if I asked them too, but with the passing years, new commitments, time restrictions, and new life realities have continued to come and go for us all, and to keep it going didn't seem to be the wisest course to take. That does not mean ruling out a return at some point down the line, but for now, I'll just participate in activities that only require my attendance.
I would like to take a moment congratulate Darrel's Big Sister Kira on receiving and accepting admission to Brock University in St. Catharines for this coming September. I am incredibly proud of her, and all her academic accomplishments during her high school years. I am equally proud of my other daughter Lauren, who will soon be finishing Grade 11, and continues to excel both in her studies, as well as being a junior baton coach, and athlete, who has recently added another Provincial Championship to go along with her many other personal and team awards. I truly wish Darrel was around to see what beautiful young women his sisters had become.
Thank You again to everyone who continues in the fight against neuroblastoma and childhood cancer, and continues to support my efforts in this battle, and in keeping Darrel's memory alive. It is, as always, greatly appreciated.
Happy Birthday Darrel
Love and Miss You Little Man
There are constant reminders of Darrel for me almost every day, and places, that for good or bad, have some kind of meaning. Last weekend, I was at Canada's Wonderland, and walking around the Park, there were a few places that stirred flashbacks to the one and only time we were there with Darrel. Whether it be pushing around him in the wheelchair, carrying him (Air-Lifts) through the line-ups for the rides he wanted to go on, the delighted horror after his first (and unfortunately only) roller coaster, or simply the corner of a Pavilion where we sat to have an ice cream after lunch, I couldn't help but take at least a brief second or two to reflect on those moments. Some feel it isn't healthy to dwell too much on the past, but when the past is all I have, I will dwell whenever, and for how ever long I wish too.
Usually Darrel's Birthday Blogs talk a bit about my attending the Mitchell Fraser Slo Pitch Tournament (as it was always held at the end of May), but it was decided by the Fraser family that last year was to be the final one. As time goes on, it can become more trying to sustain and maintain an event such as that, regardless of how successful it is/was. On a much smaller scale, my decision to stop having "Team Darrel" participate in the local Relay for Life, probably came about much the same way. While part of me wanted us to carry on with the Relay, I could see that several of the others didn't necessarily feel the same desire to attend as much as I did. I'm sure they would have come out to support me in that endeavour if I asked them too, but with the passing years, new commitments, time restrictions, and new life realities have continued to come and go for us all, and to keep it going didn't seem to be the wisest course to take. That does not mean ruling out a return at some point down the line, but for now, I'll just participate in activities that only require my attendance.
I would like to take a moment congratulate Darrel's Big Sister Kira on receiving and accepting admission to Brock University in St. Catharines for this coming September. I am incredibly proud of her, and all her academic accomplishments during her high school years. I am equally proud of my other daughter Lauren, who will soon be finishing Grade 11, and continues to excel both in her studies, as well as being a junior baton coach, and athlete, who has recently added another Provincial Championship to go along with her many other personal and team awards. I truly wish Darrel was around to see what beautiful young women his sisters had become.
Thank You again to everyone who continues in the fight against neuroblastoma and childhood cancer, and continues to support my efforts in this battle, and in keeping Darrel's memory alive. It is, as always, greatly appreciated.
Happy Birthday Darrel
Love and Miss You Little Man
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