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| Erin loved her swing. Having disabled children opens up a whole world that many people ignore. |
Today is Erin Joy's birthday. She would have been 35 today. Some people are allergic to the issue of grief. I find that odd when my friends and I are at the age where we have lost parents, spouse, relatives, best friends, or even children.
Expressing grief is therapeutic. Suppressing grief is not. America has this attitude of "three days and back to normal." My experience is that one year is the bare minimum for the loss of someone close.
Anniversaries and birthdays are very important. The sense of loss never goes away but the Christian Faith transforms the pain slowly into pleasant memories. My wife was throwing sheets into the closet, having them fall down, and yelling. We laughed because Erin Joy loved to have things fall, splatter, and make people mad. Once a large jug of yogurt fell to the floor and splashed up all over the nurse. Erin laughed at the nurse covered with yogurt. The nurses all laughed with Erin and the nurse. And they told us and we laughed all over again.
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| We have a cluster of three birthdays, Chris, Erin Joy, and Bethany, July 20 to August 2. |
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| To get Erin to post with the teddy, we had to say, "Don't you dare hug that teddy bear!' She grinned and held on - she loved that game. That works on little children, "Don't smile." One pouting boy grinned and said, "I smile." |
