A Monday Memory....

I remember the day when....

this "Super Hero," my nephew pictured above, was born.

The equally exciting news that day was the confirmation that the Englishman and I were expecting our first child - the darling seated next to him.

Fast forward many years .... 

to West Point Academy and the Acceptance Day Parade for the Bicentennial Class of 2002.

I was thrilled to be invited to attend this special event with M's family.  What an impressive scene, all those young Plebes marching on the field in formations. At the close, each section marched to the far end of the field and through an opening to the inner courtyard. Then two enormous iron gates were shut firmly behind them.

I remember I cried then.

I also remember I cried years later, seeing M's military uniform hanging on the handle of my mother's hall closet when he was on leave from Iraq and visiting the family.

Tears of thanks for the brief respite from the fear.

During that very difficult time of his deployment,  I was blessed with a Principal, fellow teachers, students and parents at the school where I taught Third Grade, who joined my efforts in supporting him and his fellow soldiers.  Letters, cards and banners were created and mailed daily to more than a dozen of them during those years.  

I remember when he visited our school at the end of that deployment, to personally thank everyone for their support - our Principal broadly smiling as she escorted him into the gym to speak to the students.

I remember the intense feeling of relief that he was safely back with us.

Though I was unable to attend M's wedding just over a year ago in California, I remember the joy I felt that he had found such a wonderful girl with which to share his life.

And now, I will remember that on the 28th of June, I received the exciting news that M had become a Daddy!

His wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy - who will carry on my Dad's family name.

Did the sky seem a little brighter this past Saturday morning?   It just might have been the beaming smiles of my parents, as they looked down from above, equally joyful at the news.