Happy Birthday Ollie!

Happy Birthday to a very special little boy who today would have been 8 years old. I am amazed at the impact a little person can make on this world in such a short time. His au natural platinum blond hair and the fuzz that ran across the bridge of his nose always reminded me of a little lion cub. Speaking of a lion... wherever this kid came he entered like a lion, certainly not like a lamb. When Jerrid and I got married the 4 boys were ALL ring bearers. They all locked arms and came down the isle not two by two but four strong across. During the ceremony I saw him pull his brown leather flip flop from his foot and hit his little bro right square in the noggin' with it. Knowing now was not the time to cry or tattle the little one took it in stride. And Ollie got off scott-free. Lion indeed. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. As a matter of fact the other day a yellow butterfly wouldn't leave our sides. A picture perfect summer day, and this colorful creature would not leave the boat no matter how many times Miss Kato's tail swirled by or how steady the summer wind circled. And I thought of Oliver. I sort of felt his vibe, his smile, his energy. The more I thought about it the more the knot in the back of my throat tightened. And then... he fluttered his wings and set sail across the water.

I miss him. We all miss him. And we are all better people for having known him.