Time To Turn Six

Lewis and Molly (his BFF)

So a rabbi once said that there's a beautiful contradiction and recognition of joy with a reminder of sorrow. There's no tears without honoring laughter. This weaves beautifully with yogic belief, we cannot have one without the other. Joy only exists because of sorrow, and sorrow only exists because of joy. They are brothers to one another, and like all siblings, they're closer than they care to admit. We are continuing to occupy that fullness of our beings. We have all sorts of beautiful contradictions in this celebration of Lew's life. We are humbled and inspired by LJ.  This day is so bittersweet. We lost and I hurt and I want it to stop. I want to let it go and find acceptance.  But we also won and I bubble up with love and he continues to teach us so much. And he is here.  And he is happy. And I breathe out gratitude for his place right next to Nate's, right there in the middle of my heart. Happy birthday Noodles Applesauce.

“But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly 
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.”

~Billy Collins, from the poem “On Turning Ten”