September 29, 2014
I think it was some time early last week when my brain started thinking beyond just a day or two ahead. Gender-ically speaking, I shouldn’t possess forethought at all – so tack on all the other stuff in our lives and I’m lucky if I remember to open the car door before trying to get in.
For some reason the idea of the upcoming weekend being the last “normal” weekend we would have for a while stuck with me. Well, it would still be normal in that it would involve the standard weekend activities we’ve come to love – baseball for Jonathan and softball for Isabella. But what was different about this one?
I remembered Anissa had plans this coming Friday night to go out to dinner and drinks with her girlfriends. This became affectionately know as her “Bye-Bye-Boobie” party. The girls saying goodbye to the “girls”, I guess you could say.
The first few weeks of October usually break our bank. There are about 10 family members on Anissa’s side all with birthday’s within this time. Apparently it’s a family tradition on her side to do nothing but try and make kids during the month of January… or maybe they just send the TV our for repair that month. Anissa’s surgery on October 2nd meant we wouldn’t be able to celebrate with them so the idea of seeing family and spending time together before her surgery was important.
Anissa and I put out an e-mail to family asking if this coming Sunday afternoon would work for a get-together. I figured that based on the level of response and people’s availability, we would figure out the location afterward. Yeah, well that didn’t happen at all like I thought it would. Instead, Anissa’s two aunts (thankfully) planned their quick and hostile takeover and commandeered the entire thing turning it into a mini holiday party. One aunt offered up her spacious home and the other… well, I don’t know exactly what the other one did, but I do know they both offered to help because they love their niece, wanted to do something nice for her and they also know I suck at hosting. Either way – we are thankful for these two. Thankful because this week was the last full week before Anissa’s surgery and with Anissa still working, the kids school schedule, practices to get to, three photo sessions across 2 days… how (or why) did I think I would be able to coordinate a party too?
It seemed like every time I got in the car I started thinking and planning the week or weeks ahead of Anissa. It was the practical, planner in me – but really, I was feeling sad but was moving way too fast to realize that. I was mourning the things that I could do right now, knowing I wouldn’t be able to in a week’s time. I wouldn’t be able to hug her for a while. Cuddling when we sleep was out of the question. I wanted to remember the time before it all changed for us.
With this in mind, I gave my photographer friend Danny a call. Anissa and I met Danny 12 years ago when, luckily, our main wedding photographer double booked himself and needed to send his associate in his place. Danny was that associate and we’ve been friends ever since.
This was the last weekend before Anissa’s surgery – I asked Danny if he could come and get some family photos. Nothing major – just the four of us together. Even with his full shooting schedule he managed to work in a trip to spend a little time with us on the day of the family party.
It truly was a great day for Anissa and a very memorable day with family and friends.
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