September 29th

Tuesday September 29th, 2015 marks what would have been my brother Larry's 51st birthday as well as the first birthday since his death.  Long time friends of the family have come to spend the week with my parents. With Larry's birthday Tuesday and my mom's on Thursday (October 1st) I am pretty sure the timing of the visit was not coincidental.

 

We will celebrate with a meal at Red Lobster on Wednesday.  In the past we have often combined mom and Larry's birthday dinner into one on the day in the middle.  (It also works well for me because I didn't really want to miss yoga on Tuesday.)  Red Lobster was a favorite and often chosen place of Larry's.  And  Dad and Peter are always looking for a reason to participate in Endless Shrimp.

 

They say the first holidays without a loved one are usually really hard.  I can at least say at this point that it is weird.  I keep thinking about "what to get Larry for his birthday."  And I found myself automatically going for the birthday card for mom from both of us as had been my habit the last few years.  Yet at this point I don't feel overly emotional or dreadful about the 29th.

 

I did decided that I want to commemorate or celebrate his life in someway.  So I am going to share in an adjoining post the Eulogy that I wrote and read at Larry's graveside service.  It seemed like a nice way to remember and share the memory with friends.