Memorial Day marks the official start of summer here. The kids had their last day of school last week. I now have a senior, a freshman, and a seventh grader. Watching the kids grow is a milestone against which I sometimes compare the passage of time since Tony’s death.
It’s already mind bending to realize our oldest will be finishing high school next year and the middle will be making his debut. But our baby is a seventh grader.
Tony didn’t get to see any of our kids reach seventh grade. Our oldest was in sixth when he died.
All our kids are now past the last milestones he was alive for.
There are a lot of things we’ve done without Tony these last 5 years. The measure of time can be taken in different ways when life is split into the before and after.
However, I still sometimes find fresh stories of their dad to share with them. We spent the long weekend at the lake with friends. At a marina today I ran into someone Tony and I knew from high school.
As our boat pulled away, I asked the kids if I’d ever told them the story about the time, I picked up their dad, and he was riding in a trunk. (I had not.) This was pre-kids and possible before we were married. Tony had been out with friends for a bachelor party. I was his sober driver and arrived to pick him up. This car rolls in and all the guys pour out like a clown car, when suddenly the trunk pops open. Tony and the guy from the marina pop out, cackling about who had been the little spoon.
It’s no wonder I hadn’t told them this one yet. It’s a prime example of, do as I say and not as I do. But I also can’t keep these funny stories that remind me of his laughter from them. The kids and I will continue to grow and change but I hope I can keep finding new tidbits to share of their dad.
