Hannah’s Journey

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Sometimes it is just hard to do. I always think of the what could or should have beens. We have been doing pretty good here at the Crossley house. September was a bit rough, as it was last year. I think it is always the fresh start of the school year and how much it meant to Hannah. This year she would have been a senior, so it is hard on Bill and I because we would be doing so much college prep with her right now. Hannah wanted to be a pediatric oncology nurse. She decided this at the age of 10 and never changed her mind. She would have been awesome!

Nathan is enjoying his time in Zambia. So far he has been pickpocketed, had his passport stolen, and got malaria. He still loves his job. Bill got me a ticket to fly to see him after Christmas, and I am a bit nervous about the trip. It will be worth all the nerves to see Nathan. It will be interesting to see what he is accomplishing during his time in Africa and meet the people he has come to know so well. I did tell him I wanted to stay where there was running water(my only stipulation).

Colin decided to spend the first semester home with us and go to community college. Hannah’s loss has been tough on him, and he felt better staying in Goshen for a while. We have loved having him around as has Austin. He keeps busy with school and work and his social life. He is also very helpful around the house.

Austin has finished cross country for another year and has started science olympiad. He got his braces off and grows every time I look at him. Colin needs to watch out, because I think Austin is going to pass him soon in the height department. I was left in the dust by all the boys a long time ago,

I have spent the last few days with our leaf blower. After 14 years of living in the same house with a gazillion trees with a gazillion leaves, Bill finally purchased a leaf blower. I am beginning to feel like it’s my early Christmas present since I seem to be the only one really using it. The boys do cart the leaves off to the woods once I get them into a pile after much begging on my part. I told Bill I would gladly share this wonderful invention with him this weekend.

I have still been going to the parent bereavement group at Sloan Kettering each month. I have gotten to know the others in the group well even though I only see them once a month. The loss of a child is a very strong bond. I have found that each parent can tell you almost to the day how long ago their child passed away, even those who lost their child many years ago. 1 year, six months, 15 days.

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