My 14th Birthday Post

Written on 6-28-25. 

        Today is my 14th birthday.  Once again, I have much to be thankful for, especially after receiving 14 gifts of extra years to live here on this magnificent earth.  I pray every night before I go to bed, and one of the prayers I say is, “Thank you, God, for bringing me to the end of another day.”  

        I think back on what happened that day, both bad and good, but mostly always good.  Then I nod off to sleep hoping God will grant me yet another day.  I started doing that after I had my stroke (six years ago this August), and it has continued since.  I can hear my dad saying, “You’re a mess, kid.”

Aren’t we all?  Everyone has some sort of health issue (or issues).  It’s a part of the human condition.  

As I reflect on this past year, as always, I have so much to be thankful for.  Mostly, my thoughts go to...

Mom and Dad.  Somehow, I was present when each passed this past year, Dad on September 6th and Mom on November 30th.  Belinda was with me when Dad breathed his last, and Guy was able to make it to say his goodbye to Mom.  Belinda had a special relationship with Dad, so that was very fitting.  It was so hard to call my brother to tell him that Dad was gone (he was headed to the airport at the time), so it so beautiful for him to make it for Mom’s death.

We have watched The Pitt on HBO, and we are watching it again with the Edgertons.  It has a scene where a son and daughter have to make the difficult decision to let their father pass comfortably.  The daughter doesn’t want to do it, but the son is willing to go along with the father’s wishes.  Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Robby, offers some help with the Hawaiian practice called Ho’oponopono where a person says these four simple sentences to help with the early stages of grief: I love you. Thank you. I forgive you. Please forgive me.

I didn’t do that with Mom and Dad, but I was able to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy just before they died.  I prayed it for Dad when I thought he was going to die (and he nearly did) in the hospital when he had C. Diff., and he was in ICU.  Mom liked it when I prayed it with her for Dad, and then Guy and I got to do it for her on her final day.  

Mom, Dad, I love you.  Thank you.  I’m glad I was able to be with you both on your last days.  You were perfect parents, and I was a perfect child, so there is nothing to be forgiven.  Okay, nobody’s perfect, but they nearly were.

This year, I am most thankful for that, but I have a long list.  Next up is the birth of our first grandbaby, Rowan James Swope!  I have now made it to see, hold, and kiss our new grandson.  He is nearly three months old at the time of this writing.  It’s been a banner year to see this continuing legacy and the passage of time, to be in the middle of two generations by looking up and looking down.  My parents go and my grandson comes.  What a treat!
I want to mention my sister, Bev.  Speaking of people I am grateful for, she’s top notch.  She did all of the immediate and necessary work with Mom and Dad by being in Colorado Springs with them.  The number of times she visited and helped them compared to the number of times I came is on the ratio of 24 to 1.  That’s a guess, but it feels accurate to me.  She also dealt with the funerals, the burials, and the attorneys.  Oh, and all the pictures!  She went through scads of pictures, organized them, and sent many to the appropriate people.  Thank you, Bev.  Welcome to being the new matriarch of the family.  Nobody is better suited to the job.

Here’s the list of other things I was able to be a part of this past year…

1. My niece, Shylah, graduated from high school.

2. I met up with old friends for my 40th high school reunion.

3. I spent Father’s Day in Albuquerque with my children.

4. I celebrated 34 years of marriage with my lovely wife, Belinda.

5. I went back to teaching for half of a school year, and it was a marvelous experience.  I actually got out of bed early to go to school with Belinda.

6. We had more camping trips with our Alto.

7. And, many other wonderful things I would have not experienced if I didn’t survive my brain surgery…

I pray God will allow another year for me to add another entry.  Love to all of you who read this.  At least I was able to keep my pants/shorts on this year (see last year’s post)!