Happy birthday to you…

I hardly received any 2013 New Year’s wishes.  Normally I would receive so many beautiful wishes but this year I received messages for a” peaceful New Year’s Eve filled with laughter and good memories…”

Last night my sister said in a text message “what tears do 2013 hold for you?  Maybe it should stay 2012”…

Jared went a friend’s home; Danie went to bed early – he is coming down with flu; Vic was asleep so that left Jon-Daniel and I.  We watched Comedy Central and had some good laughs waiting for 2012 to end.

Jon-Daniel loves making his Mommy laugh.  In a way I suppose he uses humour as a coping mechanism.

“I think we should wake Mom up at 12” I said

“Okay…Let’s sing Happy Birthday to Mom….” He said with a twinkle in his eyes.

As the hooters and sirens started going Jon-Daniel and I sneaked into Vic’s room and sang “Happy Birthday to you…”  Vic opened her eyes and said “What is happening?” and immediately fell asleep again.

The joke was on us.

Today was a quiet day.  The boys spend some wonderful quality time with their Mom.  Danie remained in bed until almost 4pm as he is feeling lousy from the flu.  We all drifted in and out Vic’s room.  In the afternoon Jared went for a swim.  Vic went outside and spoke to him.

Jared had some questions and she patiently explained to him what an “Executor’s” duties are.  She explained why Leon and I were the Executors of her will and the Trustees of their Trust. (I got some lovely photos of Vic chatting to the boys!)  Vic tried to show Jared that she could whistle through an acorn… Jon-Daniel taught her! As much as she tried she could not get a sound out of the acorn.  To everybody’s laughter she said “But I can do it!”

We convinced her that she should get onto the inflated lilo.  The cold water would reduce her body temperature and the sun would be good for the jaundice.  Very reluctantly she got onto the “non- life-saving inflatable device”.  I got into the pool with Vic.

Esther and Yuri arrived and she made a dash for her camera…  later Leon and Henk arrived.  The boys swam and laughed and played…

It was a wonderful day filled with glorious memories.  We laughed and joked and eventually ate.  Esther lay with Vic and they spoke about where Vic was in her journey.

It was a special day.

I think friends and family don’t know what to wish us…How do you say “Happy New Year” to a household where death is knocking on the door?  I would not know what to say to us if I wasn’t me…

But from our home to yours: We wish you a great 2013.  We hope that 2013 is filled with laughter, good health, abundance and time to do some good every day.  We thank you for your love and support.  Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.  You have been such an amazing source of comfort to us.

Thank you Hospice for giving us the means to have these special memories!  Thank you to the manufacturers of Morphine, Pethidine, Stemitil and Buscopan…