30 Days

Well, it's been almost a month since the accident.  It feels so fresh, so brand new.  I know it hasn't been long, thirty days isn't much but it seems like only a few days.  There has been so much that has happened so quickly I somehow lost a few weeks.  There's a lot that seems blurry to me.  The deadlines on wake and funeral decisions were so fast and furious my head was spinning.  Thank God my family and friends stepped in.  I'm so fortunate so many people helped.

I ventured out a little this weekend, something I haven't done unless I was headed to a fundraiser - or something centered around the kids. My tendency has been to stay in but I know that isn't always good.  I have to get out a bit.  It was a snowy weekend as you know, and I just felt like doing something, even briefly.  The house seems to get smaller and smaller the more I stay in.  The rooms look messier and the stacks of papers and cards and mail take up corners of my desk and tables and I don't seem to put a dent in them.  I felt the need to step outside for a change.  This was good!  I went out just to go out.

Saturday I headed out for a very late breakfast, IHOP in Clifton Park.  They recognized me when I didn't expect they would.  The restaurant team bought my breakfast.  Thank you very much!  My sever, Lisa and I had the nicest chat.  I'm going back to see her again sometime.  She told me loads of SHEN students and parents had been in recently.  I know it was a place Chris enjoyed with many of his football buddies.  He even filled out a job application there last summer.  

He liked those fattening cheesecake stuffed pancakes with whipped cream on top and I always got some sort of light and fit meal.  He would devour his happily. NUM, NUM!!", as Chris would say!  I'd tell him mine was healthier.  He'd shrug and keep forking it in anyway.  I suggested he get a job there if he liked it so much so he applied.  I told Lisa that while we talked.

I bought an IHOP Groupon back in November, fully intending on using it with Chris.  He could easily spend $16 on his meal.  I brought it with me on Saturday but since the restaurant paid my tab I gave it to Lisa to use on another customer.  No need to save it.  I'll consider that my second act of kindness.

I've got to do more random acts of kindness.  There's so much room for improvement in my life and it feels good doing the right thing.  After seeing so many kind gestures people have done for me and in honor of these four great kids, I know I can do better. 

I headed to the Empire State Plaza after that.  A trip to downtown Albany in the snow, it was so beautiful out.  I wanted to get a look at the Olympic skater Paul Wylie.  I'm a fan of figure skating.  I love watching it on TV and I actually went to the 1980 Olympic women's figure skating in Lake Placid.  That was so great!  I love Lake Placid and head that direction when I can.  The hiking is amazing and the village so inviting.  

But anyway, when Stars on Ice, (the Olympic skating tour) would announce their yearly schedule I would grab tickets from the Times Union Center and bring my mom.  We used to hold up "10!" signs at the end of each skaters performance as if we were handing out judges scores.  (silly I know!!) My mother loved it, she's a huge fan of Scott Hamilton.  Such great times.  So... it peaked my interest to go see Paul skate right before my eyes again.  I've seen him several times before but never up close, only in the arena.  I thought I could snap a picture if I could get close enough.  Turns out the crowd was so spread out I got right up front.  I got a better photo than I expected, look here we are!  

 That was a huge pick me up :-). Thanks Paul!!  :-)

Sunday was quiet until afternoon.  I had visitors!  

The Winds and Hardys came over.  I haven't had Matt to my house yet and I was hoping he would like to spend some time with us and see Christopher's room.  I hope it brought him comfort.  I love it in there as does Bailey and Chris's friends.  I was praying Matt might find it peaceful.  I'll have to ask him later.  Coach Clawson and his wife came over as well and a few of the football players.  It was a nice houseful of friends that would never have been sitting in my living room had circumstances been different.  I'm glad they spent their afternoon with me on their vacation.  I couldn't have asked for a nicer Sunday afternoon other than to have Chris there in person.  I know he was there in the room though.

I met an Olympian and forged new relationships with friends this weekend.  I shared a smile and some funny stories.  It was so uplifting.   Remembering Chris with those that loved him makes me feel so warm inside.  It made my weekend bright.  

Thank you for reading.