Family isn’t just who you are given assigned to at birth; there’s also the family you make. I am lucky and continue to be very blessed to have both and I wanted to recognize just a couple dear ones in particular here.
First, my love, my life, my truly better half. As difficult as this time has been for me, I know it’s been just as bad, if not worse for him. Having to watch me go through this entire and ongoing ordeal and knowing there is only so much he can do to help my pain or help me heal faster. Plus, I’m the patient, and as such have specifically been the incredible recipient of an outpouring of love. Beautifully written, thoughtful cards arrive in our mailbox to me almost every day. Surprise deliveries are left at our front door via Amazon, florist, bakery – gifts of all kinds, big and small. He delivers them all to me with the biggest and sweetest smile on his face. Always, always giving…whether making sure the biggest half of the cookie is left for me or giving me the window seat on the plane even if that means he’s likely to be crushed in the middle. And somehow, fresh flowers keep arriving in my room before I’ve even noticed the previous ones had passed their prime.
But my favorite time of day is when I hear the lock and the hello greeting from my husband as he comes home to me. Safe and sound and happy to see me no matter what. We often make dinner together (not as much right now of course!), talk about our days, sit on the couch eating said dinner (dining table to come, I promise, hopefully soon), watching our latest obsession, The Americans and then snuggling together and with Callie. (He didn’t even own a tv before he met me, never really been his thing so the fact that the does this with me almost every night?! Those are the moments right there.)
Bill, after a pretty serious scare that I barely remember (of course) during this whole ordeal too, I didn’t think it was possible to love you even more. But, God damn, I do. I’m so, so lucky. I can’t tell you much I’m enjoying our new normal routine with you. While I will probably always miss weddings, I LOVE having you all to myself on weekends now. You are my love, my light, my anchor in every storm. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for always being there.
Also on the list, is my “little” brother (and by extension, his beautiful family we received in their whole marriage deal – his wife Jen, her parents, her sister and her family, and of course, our adorable nephews) who took time off from work, drove nine hours by himself to come see me and stay with us for a couple of days when Bill went back to work during my second week of recovery. He brought me a beautiful orchid, chocolate drizzled popcorn (OMG that popcorn!!) and sweet cards that his boys made for me. But, of course, most importantly he brought himself. He made us dinner, picked up dinner, binged Stranger Things with us, walked to the lake with us, and let me pass out when my droopy eyes (thanks, Valium) couldn’t take anymore. And I was so happy he could be here to help celebrate Bill’s birthday with us since I wasn’t the best birthday company this year. 😉 I encouraged him to go for a walk around the lake, hit up brewery, but he refused to leave my side. I didn’t get to choose him as a brother, but he’s exactly the one I would have picked had I had the choice. Thank you, Andy, so, so much for coming and also HUGE thanks to your amazing wife, who took care of the kiddos and held down your home front while you were here. We cannot wait to see all four of you again soon and I hope some of Bill’s birthday cake actually made it’s way home with him! AND not just the frosting part since you like the cake part best, although everyone knows the frosting is the BEST part of. I know sometimes it doesn’t feel like we’re even related, but it sure as hell does in the things that really matter. I love you, bro. My only regret is that we could’ve gotten you hooked on Breaking Bad while you were here if we hadn’t watched Stranger Things!
Then there’s Julie. We met Julie when she sold her popcorn (it’s not a lie when I say it was THE BEST CARAMEL CORN IN THE WORLD) at local arts fairs. After enjoying running into her so much, we finally agreed, we should meet up for drinks & dinner sometime and we actually did. She and her husband, Ken are relatively new, but fast friends. She is wonderful, authentic, caring, and wickedly funny. When I mentioned to her that I’d be having this surgery, she said she was going to set up meal schedule for us, if it was ok, but that really she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. And it was more than ok. Everyone who signed up or donated meals, gift cards, sweet treats, and even cozy blankets (thank you Kent & Geri!!), were truly lifesavers and we have Julie to thank for organizing it all. We could not have estimated how much it would help knowing that dinner was one less thing we needed to worry about.
Lastly, to our “Brat Pack” gang. There’s just too much to thank you all for. Just know that we love you and are so, so happy you are in our lives. <3 <3 <3
And, honestly, there are just too, too many people to thank by name here. (I feel like an Oscar winner whose about to be played off!)
Yet I will take a page from Emma Stone’s recent acceptance speech though – “I will find you, each and everyone of you, hug you and thank you personally”. In the meantime, know that we miss you and love you and will always remember how you all got us through such a crazy and difficult time in our lives. Your friendship is the best medicine in the world.