Nineteen

Posted On February 5, 2021

Sometimes I’m reminded just how lucky I am. Yesterday I got to buy a birthday card for Tate. That simple thing, standing in the card aisle at the grocery store trying to find something funny or poignant, filled me with so much joy. I practically floated out of Fry’s with a ridiculous gnome card and a bag of apples, grateful beyond measure that we get to celebrate another birthday with him.

Us.

Tate turned 19 today! We celebrated with a fondue dinner, and then we hung out around the fire pit laughing about old stories and talking about the future. We ended the night with a walk around the block – the same walk we have been taking together since moving into this house 14 years ago.

19 and 21-years-old and still smacking each other constantly
A nice little fire kept Tate’s outdoor February birthday celebration cozy.
I am blown away by this! Greg’s cousin Maureen made a pillow case for Tate and masks for all of us out of fabric with our pets wearing party hats for Tate’s birthday! I don’t know how people get to be this creative and cool.

Tate had a great day. Big thanks to MaryJane Wilson for bringing him lunch and baking one of her famous chocolate cakes. His Aunt Sara sent a delivery of enough ramen, chocolate, and beef jerky to last him several weeks and an ice-cream cake he started on a day early. Tate got to talk to all his grandparents, and that always makes him laugh – lately his Idaho Grandma has been focused on raisins. You guys have loved him so hard and taken such great care of him and us.

Our wish is that he gets to celebrate many, many more birthdays.

Chocolate Fondue

Related Posts

About The Author

sallyallen

2 Comments
  1. Rose Myers-Bradley

    Happy belated birthday to amazing Tate! Sounds like he had a special day!
    The pet fabric is blowing me away and I need the source of where to check this out. ✂️✂️✂️

  2. Jane E Wright

    When I asked Tate what he wanted for his birthday he said button up shirts. I was blown away by that request as you were in the birthday cards isle. To me it was a sign of hope for his future. It reflected the act of moving forward with his life. I couldn’t help compare it to when he couldn’t button a shirt or lift his hand to take hair out of his mouth.
    I called Nancy to share my joy. She immediately jumped on to buy a shirt which isn’t what I was after. I just needed to share the joy.
    Our world needs joy, it needs to hear Tate’s story. Thank for continuing to share it.
    I’m looking forward to the day to join you on the patio.
    Love & Hugs Mom