Lies Found on Birthday Cakes

And so, three and a half years after the sudden, unexpected, and inexplicable departure of Daniel from this Earth, we find ourselves actually celebrating what would be his sixteenth birthday.  All the kids, who are mostly grown, were home this weekend for the celebration.  We had a lunchtime pizza party with all different types of pizza so everyone would have a pizza variety they liked.   We had a huge salad with lovely fresh lettuce, chopped fresh carrot, chopped yellow, red, green and orange peppers, and homemade salad dressing. It was the type of family gathering Daniel always enjoyed.   The kind with lots of laughter and joking with everyone home. The cake was a large sheet cake variety  with Daniel's favorite chocolate cake with white icing. The cake was decorated with a lie.  "Daniel is 16"  it proclaimed.   Of course, we all know that time in Heaven is measured differently than here, and that you are likely older than 16 would look. Here on Earth,  we are simple, we Earth dwellers, we think in very concrete terms most of the time. As your mother, to me you are somewhere else, and you are in fact 16. (Except in my head and my heart when you are sometimes 12 1/2 still) When it was time to light the candles on the cake, our eldest son did so with a propane torch. Daniel would have been amused by this. I blew the candles out for you Daniel, because with my asthma recently, I am the closest person here to being dead, a feeble joke,  I know. Sometimes, death is a cruel joke, and sometimes we give in to it. (To the cruel joking, I mean.)  Sometimes we joke about death, not because we can't deal with it, but because it really is a falsehood. When we leave our bodies here, and are bodies are still and quiet, our energy, our spirit still exists and still moves on. We aren't really dead, our spirit just moves forward. Only then do we have the clarity which can only come with awareness and serenity devoid of trips to the bathroom, hunger pangs, pain, longings, wishing, and the other afflictions which bathe us while on Earth. It was all here today Daniel, both your parents, your animals, your siblings, and friends celebrating your life and your memory, and hoping you still recall the minute details of your life in the same golden light that we do. Happy Birthday. You are welcome here anytime at any age .;)






(Lyrics)

Kind friends and companions, together combine
And raise up your voices in chorus with mine
We will drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again

Chorus:
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
We will drink and be merry, all out of one glass
We will drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again

Here's a health to the wee lass that I love so well
Her style and her beauty, there's none can excel
A smile on her countenance as she sits on my knee
There is none in this wide world as happy as me

Chorus

Our ship lies at harbor, and ready to dock
I wish her safe landing without shake or shock
And when we are sailing to the land of the free
I will always remember your kindness to me

I have read that old proverb, I've read it so true
My love is as fair as the bright morning dew
I have read that old proverb, I suppose you have too
So good friends and companions I bid you adieu

Chorus