Big Ups and Big Downs

Joy and sorrow over the past weeks. Julia officially turned 1 this past Tuesday, and on Saturday we had her big birthday bash at the house, filled with cousins and aunts and uncles and friends. The weather was stunning and there was lots of running around outside in the yard.

My mom was supposed to be here for the weekend's festivities, but she had to cancel, and for the worst possible reason; last Thursday, my cousin Mark, who had been receiving treatment for cancer, died. He was only 43. Because he was 9 years older than me, and his brother, Darren, was closer to my age, we didn't always hang out. But he was easygoing and funny and always treated me well, and when I was a preteen and he was college age, I thought he was so cool. I think the part that breaks my heart the most is that he leaves behind a 5-year-old and 2-year-old from his second marriage. I can't imagine growing up and not having any real memories of my father.

I survived my birthday trip to New York, my first time apart from Julia ever. It was fun to wander and shop a little bit in Manhattan, but I missed my favorite Moons and I was glad to be home when it was over.