Birthday memories and wishes

Happy birthday, Sweetie! On your birthday Monday, we went to the cemetery on our way to your Grandma Darnell's visitation and funeral. She passed away this week. It was sad to lose Ed's mom, and sad to have it happen as we had planned to celebrate your life on your birthday. We will just celebrate longer and more often this way. Ed was at the cemetery with you when he received the call about his mom dying. Hard moment for him. I have included a photo of you with your grandparents on the Darnell side from 4 years ago. We will all miss her. Another person in heaven who loves you!

Ben is here this week in honor of your birthday, to help us all remember and celebrate your life. It is so good to have him here during these days. You would be loving having him home this week, too. I couldn't have asked for two more wonderful children.

I have heard from so many of your friends this week, each remembering you and your birthday in their own way. Several candles have been lit in your memory this week, and several pieces of cake have been eaten in your memory, or so I've heard! :) Your friends and family have been remembering your warmth and smiles and laughs, and sharing stories. It's been so good to hear from so many people still. I am so thankful to still feel like you are just in the other room and will walk in any minute. I know it isn't going to happen, but I still feel you close by whenever I am in places that you frequented or loved. I often look over to your comfy chair upstairs where you would stretch out and fall asleep, and think of how I would cover you up and turn on a fan for soft noise so you could sleep. I often remember how you loved to lay your head in my lap and have me play with your hair till you fell asleep. We were still doing that after you were in college. We both loved it! I still go into your room and spray a touch of your perfume, appropriately called Happy. You would spray a little out into the room and walk through it to just give you a hint of it. I close my eyes when I smell that scent now and think of you laughing and scooting through the spray so you wouldn't get too much on you. It would be the final thing you did right before heading out the door to meet up with Walter or other friends. Cute as a button. All smiles and hugs.

My advice to anyone who loves you out there is to just hug somebody this week for Pam. Light a candle, do something nice for somebody, or have a piece of cake or listen to a song or sing a song, or watch a movie she loved or whatever means something to you and Pam. Go out of your way to help someone. Share something.

Hugs and kisses, Sweetheart, and happy birthday there in heaven with grandmas and grandpas and friends and family who have gone before you. We all love you and will celebrate your life in any way we can this week, and every day.

I love you,
Mom