It's been twenty-four years since Shane was born. I wish he was here, so I could tease him about getting old, or listen to his current plans for getting a better job or going back to school, or just let him charm me with that amazing smile.
Instead, Corinne and I hosted a birthday memorial party for his friends, at the Lord's Point Community Center. The three of us lived in Lord's Point the first year that Corinne and I were married, and some of his friends were able to reserve the community center. We were expecting a lot of people to show up, and the community center is a nice building with lots of room.
See, most of Shane's friends never got a memorial or funeral when he died. Since we didn't know how to reach them all, we asked the local papers if they'd run the story. They all ran it, and one of them even interviewed Corinne and ran a full page story with a big picture of Shane! That was excellent.
Unfortunately, mother nature seemed to be as sorrowful (or outright cranky) today as any bereaved mother. Hurrican Ivan's leftovers stormed through, dumping tears by the bucketful and always threatening to blow us and our "great loss" out to sea. Only about fifteen people showed up for the party, even his best friend (Scott) didn't make it.
I said that I wish Shane was here, but not just for me. This has hollowed Corinne, hollowed and drained and nearly beaten her. I still love this woman with all my heart, but I can barely remember what life was like -- what anything was like -- seven months ago, before the mother lost her son.
So, Happy Birthday, Shane. We did our best to celebrate you a little today. We talked about you, and ate your favorite foods, and watched a video of your High School Senior Party, laughed at your singing and dancing and walking on your hands. In the end, we all released balloons bearing your name into that windy chaos, like your Mom and I normally do on the 12th of every month.
We'll never forget you.
- Seth
