If you ever have to

If you ever have to go to a Celebration of Life for a child (and do I ever ever hope you never have to), this is the kind to go to.  Big yard on the river.  Sparkling sunny day.  Twenty or more kids running wild, riding Strider bikes over ramps, climbing through tunnels, chasing bubbles, playing soccer.  Moms who haven't had a chance to catch up in a while, doing just that.  Dads who are often left out of the loop with these mom/child play dates blowing bubbles, lifting hurt kids off the ground, taking pictures.  Babies sitting just off to the side, watching the melee with glee.  And the entire undercurrent - this is so Bear.  Bear would love this.  Isn't Bear such a special child, to have made all this possible.  Because it's true.  Without Bear, there would be no Little Explorers group.  No hiking and biking play dates, no pot luck food lunches.  We don't get together with this group as much since we've moved, but we stay in touch.  We go to Longwood with them.  We go to play dates on Fridays when we don't have school.  We see their pictures on Facebook and we re-connect when we can.  They are our friends.  Thank you, Bear, for making this great group of women and kids.

It was a relatively easy event to attend.  It was a hard event to prepare for.  It was hard reminding Dexter that we were going to a party for Bear, but Bear would not be there.  It was hard hearing him ask "Why do people have to die sometimes?"  It was hard telling him that people's bodies stop working sometimes.  Usually it happens when we are really really old.  But Bear was very sick, and that made his body stop working.  It was hard, but somewhat heartwarming, to hear his reply.  "I am going to live until I am NINE THOUSAND!"  Oh, I hope so, sweet boy.  I really really hope so.