Sep 24, 2021 would have been my Mom's 71st Birthday.  She would have wanted a blow out PARRRRTAAY for 70 and then we would have had to convince her not to in the midst of COVID.  She'd still be wearing bright colors  and a T-shirt that says 'Don't I look great for 75?' because she's funny like that.   But she's not here anymore and life goes on....

In these past years, David and Jasmine got married, are still living in Sacramento and continue to build their rental house empire, constructing one ADU at a time. He is still working in industrial refrigeration (like the meat counter or freezer aisle at a super market) and really liking it.  Life is good and they are happy. 

My baby, William, from last time I posted is now 5 and just started kindergarten! My daughter Lindsay is now in 2nd. We are growing roots, building our village and love living in Terra Linda part of San Rafael, CA.  An apricot tree is growing happily in the backyard, with a turquoise garden gnome keeping it company both as a small tribute to my mother, and I decorate in teals for September and proudly wear my 'Cancer Sucks' shirt to celebrate her birthday month.   We survived the past 18 months of the craziness that it was. I channeled my inner Paula and went all out for holidays (especially turning our house into Hogwarts for Halloween), fairies doors in the backyard, canning tomatoes, sewing with the kids, and sooooo many board games and blanket forts.  We dressed in elf pajamas and delivered Christmas cookies to friends and neighbors.  In the spring, I bravely volunteered to coach TeeBall to 4,5 &6 year olds and surprised myself by how much I LOVED it--I mean my own two drive me nuts because I live with them, but a group of 12 of them for an hour is totally fun. This past summer was filled with a "Summer of Fun bucket list", smores in the backyard, and 4 new chicks added to our backyard flock (Minerva, Myrtle, Hedwig & Ginny....can you tell the kids are obsessed with Harry Potter??).   In October, Charles and I will celebrate 15 years since our "I Dos".  Life is good, and we are happy.   

My dad has remodeled much of the house, which my parents had fantasized about for years but he finally executed. It is beautiful!  The silver lining was that almost everything had to move out, which meant we could be selective as we moved stuff back in. We gave ourselves permission to 'de-paula' the house in the process, but still leave meaningful small tributes and memories of her.  Now it's my Dad's house, and that feels right.  Two years ago (2019) we had our first Christmas there since mom had passed, and it was hard, but good.  We all had needed enough time to pass before we could tackle that one last big tradition that my mother was such a large part of.   I had hosted it the years before that and it was nice to make some new traditions too.   We all pitched in, all argued about the best way to cook a prime rib (also a tradition, the eating of AND the debate on how to cook), wore matching family pajamas and laughed when our scout elves toilet papered the 16' Christmas tree.  We had a great time and I know she was smiling down on us making new memories, new traditions.  Life is good and we are happy. 

Dad doesn't know I'm about to write the next part....To further prove the amazing woman my mother was and the power of the love that my parents had, some of you know, some might not, my mother was on a mission to find my father's next great love before she passed. She knew that he had a lot of living left to do and much love to give.  My parents would talk about whom might be compatible, whom not. David and I knew of this but were only mildly involved, as it was such an intimate topic by nature.   I'm thrilled to say my father is happily dating this wonderful woman and is extremely happy.  They are extremely compatible, just as my mother has suspected.  She is a wonderful fit into the family and is much loved by all of us.   People ask if she knows that my mom picked her, and she does. The next question usually is "yeah but isn't that weird to her?" to which we reply "it wouldn't have work out if it did--this is whom we are".    Thanks Mom for finding Dad a keeper!!  Proof that love is so very powerful and that life indeed does go on. 

He spends his time between the various places he loves with the ones he loves, from his house to her house, the cabins, the ranch in Chico. He's a busy guy, with lots of living and loving left to do, just like my mom knew.  Life is good and he is happy. 

Mom knows all this, as she watching down on each and every one of us.  But sometimes I just need to tell her out loud  that I miss her, especially when someone comments on my kids beautiful bright blue eyes and they respond with a "Thank you, I got them from my mommy" just like I used to do when I was little. I smile and think of her every single time, thankful for my blue eyed mama and my blue eyed kids. 

Happy Birthday Mom, I hope you are drinking your Mumm, toasting to yourself and to us!  Know that life is good and we are happy.   

Thank you all for being part of our village, supporting our family in good times and bad. We were glad to have you on this journey with us, and the journeys to come.  We hope life is good and you are happy.  Hug your loved ones, don't go to bed angry, be gentle with yourself and others and ALWAYS drink the good champagne!  Cheers to Paula!