Day 103

Today is (was?) Damian's birthday. He would have turned 16. Sigh...

I've been dreading this day for the last couple of weeks. I feared the worst: lots of pain, sorrow and tears. As the day nears its end, I can say that none of that really happened. Yes, I was sad and I felt the pain of Damian's absence but it wasn't despair or a free fall into the abyss. It was ok. I give a lot of credit for this to Dawn. 

Knowing that she didn't want to spend the day inside and miserable, Dawn reached out a few days ago to , the Lakeview's head of school and assistant head of school, Dr. Montgomery and Mr.  Simpson, to get their approval for us bringing in donuts today for the students and faculty. Of course, they agreed to Dawn's request. So this morning, bright and early, Dawn and I picked up twenty dozen donuts and brought them to Lakeview. The kids were all jazzed to get free donuts and I'm sure the faculty and staff ate their share as well. While it may have been a touch self-serving, it did feel good to see the kids enjoying themselves. We also got to share some memories of Damian with a couple of the other moms who knew of our plan and came to school this morning to see us. 

After our trip to Gainesville and Lakeview, we ventured back home but didn't stay long. We then went to one of Damian's favorite restaurants for lunch and ordered two of his favorite foods: hot wings, which we shared, and a cheeseburger (for me).  After another brief stop at the house, we went to Damian's grade school, McGinnis Woods. 

Mary Johnson, the principal of McGinnis, who we've know since Damian went there starting in 1st grade, had graciously accepted our offer a few days prior to give to the school Damian's crested gecko. We no sooner walked through the front door with the Mr. Gecko in his large terrarium, that he was an instant hit. Lots of faculty stopped to admire the school's newest adoptee and ask questions before we got him up to the classroom where he will take up permanent residence. Once in the classroom, the kids - 2nd graders at the that time - all flocked to see him as well and also ask questions. Hard not to smile when so many kids are obviously enthralled by something of Damian's. 

Throughout the day, both Dawn and received lots of support from friends and family - texts, phone calls, a couple of flower arrangements and a box of cupcakes. So all in all, not a bad day. Well, it could have been a little better. For starters, I would have preferred the roof not leaking like a sieve during this morning's rain showers. (It was just fixed again yesterday. For the fourth time!!) I would have also preferred to come home from lunch and NOT find dog poop on the carpet.  But that's what life is: the highs, the lows, the very lows, the leaks, the accidents, altruism, serendipity, joy. 

I take it as it comes. 

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